DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday assured that government would do ‘everything’ for protecting tigers and called the other countries’ to continue efforts to preserve this endangered species.

The premier came up with the assurance while addressing the inaugural session of the 2nd Global Tiger Stocktaking Conference at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the city.

Sheikh Hasina said, “Unplanned human population growth, indiscriminate industrialization, destruction of forest and overall development pressure are causing depletion of the habitat of tigers.”

“Illegal poaching and quizzing of its habitat make the tiger an endangered species. During the last one century, the population of this spectacular animal has been reduced from over one hundred thousand to a mere 3,700 worldwide now,” she added.

Hasina said, “The Sunderbans needs to be saved for its colossal storage of biodiversity, besides the precious Royal Bengal Tiger.”

She assured her government’s firm commitment to save   the tigers saying “my government will do everything for conservation of the tigers.”

Hasina urged other countries to “keep their continued efforts for protecting tigers” and “join hands to save the tigers and save the nature.”

Forest Department of the Ministry of Environment and Forests organized the three-day conference in cooperation with The Tiger Range Countries Global Tiger Initiative, Global Tiger Forum and different development partners including the World Bank.

Some 140 delegations from 20 different countries have taken part in the conference.

The first Tiger Forum summit was held at Dhaka in 2000.

BDST: 1216 HRS, SEP 14, 2014