The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has won the Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation 2015 conferred by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

"The award was given in recognition of Rab's contribution in controlling wildlife crimes since its inception," said Chief Conservator of Forest and Wildlife Tapan Kumar Dey.

Other awardees are zoology professor Monirul Hasan Khan of Jahangirnagar University for research on wildlife, Mohidur Rahman for his organisation Initiative for Society Heritage and Wildlife, and Md Hamid for preserving birds' nests in Rajshahi.

The announcement came at the ministry's press conference at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital yesterday on the occasion of World Environment Day.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court lawyer Manzil Murshid and Channel i director Mukit Mazumdar Babu were nominated for the National Environment Award.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to hand over the awards today, at the inaugural ceremony of the national forestation campaign and tree fair at the capital's Krishibid Institution Bangladesh.

Each winner of the Bangabandhu Award will receive a cheque equivalent to the value of two tolas of gold, a crest, and a certificate.

Addressing the event, Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju said about four crore trees would be planted across the country over the next one year.

He added that a digital management information system was being developed by the ministry for sustainable management of forests.