The symbol of our nation

The Bengal Tiger truly captures the spirit of Bangladesh.

That is why it is so important that we do everything we can to protect this majestic beast, which has been endangered for some time now.

According to the Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division, the population of tigers stood at 453 in 1982 and 440 in 2004, but the number now stands at about 106.

Illegal activity such as poaching has contributed to this steep decline, along with a lack of comprehensive monitoring of their numbers.

We need to save our tigers -- not just to protect the ecological balance of the Sundarbans, but for the sake of our unique national heritage, for the sake of our identity.