Source: Times of India
Context
Bangladesh officially joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) as its 27th member country on Wednesday, 24 June 2026. The Bangladesh Cabinet approved the decision on 22 May 2026 (in the 8th cabinet meeting chaired by PM Tarique Rahman) after a proposal from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The move followed discussions between Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Shri Pranay Verma and Bangladesh’s Environment Minister Shri Abdul Awal Mintoo on 8-9 April 2026. Bangladesh’s inclusion is particularly significant because India and Bangladesh share the Sundarbans — the world’s largest mangrove forest (~10,000 sq km) — which is home to about 125 wild Royal Bengal Tigers (Bangladesh’s national animal). The IBCA was launched by PM Modi on 9 April 2023 at the “Project Tiger 50th Anniversary Celebration” in Mysuru, Karnataka and became a full treaty-based international organisation on 23 January 2025. Headquartered in New Delhi with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under MoEFCC as the nodal agency, it covers 7 big cat species — Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma — of which India is home to 5 (excluding Jaguar + Puma). India committed a $100 million grant for the first 5 years.
Key Facts
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh Joined | 24 June 2026 (as 27th member) |
| Bangladesh Cabinet Approval | 22 May 2026 |
| PM of Bangladesh | Shri Tarique Rahman (BNP) |
What is IBCA?
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched by | PM Modi, 9 April 2023 at Mysuru |
| Occasion | Project Tiger 50-Year Celebration |
| Treaty-Based Status | 23 January 2025 |
| HQ | New Delhi, India |
| Nodal Agency | National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under MoEFCC |
| Species Covered | 7 Big Cats: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma |
IBCA Objectives
- Habitat conservation + protection.
- Anti-poaching + wildlife crime prevention.
- Scientific research + capacity building.
- Technology sharing.
- Financial mobilisation for conservation.
- Combat illegal wildlife trafficking.
- Best-practice repository for member nations.
Some IBCA Members
- India (founding).
- Bangladesh (June 2026 — 27th).
- Russia, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Armenia, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Rwanda, Angola, Myanmar, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, and others.
Sundarbans Facts
- Location: Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) Delta, shared by India + Bangladesh.
- World’s largest mangrove forest.
- Only mangrove ecosystem with tigers in the world.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site (India: 1987; Bangladesh: 1997).
- Wild Tigers in Sundarbans (Bangladesh side): ~125.
About Bangladesh (Geographic Overview)
- Capital: Dhaka.
- Government: Sovereign Parliamentary Republic.
- Location: Northern apex of Bay of Bengal, between Indian subcontinent + Southeast Asia.
- Borders: India, Myanmar, Bay of Bengal.
- National Animal: Royal Bengal Tiger.
Big Cats of Bangladesh
- Royal Bengal Tiger: In Sundarbans (~125 wild).
- Indian Leopard: Extremely rare, in Chittagong Hill Tracts + Sylhet.
- Other Wild Cats: Clouded Leopard, Fishing Cat, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat.
Global Big Cat Conservation Status (IUCN)
| Species | IUCN Status |
|---|---|
| Tiger | Endangered |
| Lion | Vulnerable (Asiatic Lion: Endangered) |
| Leopard | Vulnerable |
| Snow Leopard | Vulnerable |
| Cheetah | Vulnerable |
| Jaguar | Near Threatened |
| Puma | Least Concern |
India’s Big Cat Milestones
- Project Tiger: Launched 1 April 1973 at Corbett National Park by PM Indira Gandhi.
- Project Lion: Launched August 2020 (Asiatic Lion, Gir).
- Project Cheetah: Launched 17 September 2022 at Kuno National Park, MP.
- NTCA: Established December 2005.
- Tigers in India (2022 Census): ~3,682 (~75% of world’s wild tigers).
- India’s Big Cat Corridor: Central Indian Landscape, Terai Arc, Western Ghats.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to Bangladesh joining the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), consider the following statements:
- Bangladesh officially joined the IBCA as its 27th member on 24 June 2026.
- The Bangladesh Cabinet approved the decision on 22 May 2026.
- The move followed discussions between Indian High Commissioner Shri Pranay Verma and Bangladesh Environment Minister Shri Abdul Awal Mintoo on 8-9 April 2026.
- Bangladesh became the founding member of the IBCA in 2023.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; Bangladesh joined as the 27th member in June 2026 — NOT as a founding member in 2023.)
Q2. With reference to the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), consider the following statements:
- The IBCA was launched by PM Modi on 9 April 2023 at Mysuru, Karnataka, during the Project Tiger 50th Anniversary Celebration.
- It became a full treaty-based international organisation on 23 January 2025.
- It is headquartered in New Delhi, India, with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) as the nodal agency.
- The IBCA is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; the IBCA is headquartered in New Delhi, India — NOT Nairobi, Kenya.)
Answer Key
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Bangladesh joined 2026, not founding 2023.
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: HQ New Delhi, not Nairobi.
