State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku has announced that the traditional Rajshahi Central Zoo will be transformed into a modern, aesthetic, and international-standard safari park to meet the long-standing expectations of the local people.
The state minister made these remarks while responding to queries from journalists this morning following an inspection of the Rajshahi Central Botanical Garden and Zoo.
Addressing the current state of the facility, the state minister noted that past mismanagement, corruption, and unplanned activities had severely damaged the heritage and beauty of the zoo.
However, he emphasised that the government has taken sincere and effective initiatives to rectify the situation.
The state minister further informed that an expert team will soon visit Rajshahi to conduct a feasibility study on upgrading the zoo into an international-standard safari park.
An integrated master plan will be formulated based on their recommendations to implement development activities in phases.
Regarding the welfare of the animals, he said an investigation would be conducted into the cases of animals that have gone missing or were transferred elsewhere at various times, and necessary actions would be taken.
The state minister added that new animals would be introduced gradually to increase the zoo’s biodiversity and attraction.
When his attention was drawn to the increasing number of deer and subsequent food shortages, the state minister acknowledged that the current deer population exceeds the park’s capacity, creating management and supply challenges.
He assured that the issue would be resolved in an environmentally friendly and systematic manner following the recommendations of the expert team.
In response to a question regarding the establishment of a slaughtering house in Rajshahi, the state minister announced that a modern meat processing centre (slaughterhouse) would be set up as soon as possible to ensure the hygienic slaughter of animals and the marketing of meat for city residents.
He noted that the required site for this project has already been determined.
During the inspection, he was accompanied by Mahfuzur Rahman Riton, administrator of Rajshahi City Corporation; Md Boyzar Rahman, director of the Department of Livestock Services; senior officials from the district administration and Rajshahi City Corporation; and leaders of BNP and its associate and affiliated organisations.
