Context: Bangladesh has officially joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) as its 27th member country.
About Bangladesh joins International Big Cat Alliance:
What It Is?
- Bangladesh (officially the People’s Republic of Bangladesh) is a sovereign, unitary, parliamentary republic located in South Asia. As one of the world’s most densely populated nations, it is characterized by its dynamic deltaic topography, prominent fertile agricultural lands, and critical vulnerability to oceanic climate change anomalies.
Geographical Matrix: Situated on the northern apex of the Bay of Bengal, positioned within the geopolitical convergence zone between the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
National Capital: Dhaka.
Border nations: India, Myanmar and Bay of Bengal.
Key Geological Features:
- Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna (GBM) Delta:
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- Flat Alluvial Plain: Over 80% of Bangladesh consists of fertile alluvial plains formed by the Padma, Jamuna, and Meghna rivers, making it one of the world’s largest delta systems.
- Fertile but Flood-Prone: The nutrient-rich soils support intensive rice cultivation, but annual monsoon floods and river overflows frequently affect agriculture and settlements.
- Tertiary Hills and Uplands:
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- Chittagong Hill Tracts: This rugged hilly region in southeastern Bangladesh lies along the Myanmar border and is inhabited by several indigenous tribal communities.
- Sylhet Hills: Located in northeastern Bangladesh, these rolling hills receive heavy rainfall and are renowned for their extensive tea plantations.
- Sundarbans Mangrove Forest:
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- World’s Largest Mangrove: Shared by Bangladesh and India, the Sundarbans forms the world’s largest mangrove forest, protecting the coast from cyclones, tidal surges, and coastal erosion.
Big Cats of Bangladesh:
- Royal Bengal Tiger: Bangladesh’s national animal is now restricted to the Sundarbans, where about 125 wild tigers survive in the unique mangrove ecosystem.
- Indian Leopard: Now extremely rare, it is mainly found in the forests of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Sylhet near the Indian border.
- Other Wild Cats: Bangladesh also supports the Clouded Leopard, Fishing Cat, Jungle Cat, and Leopard Cat, which inhabit its forests, wetlands, and protected areas.
