The cubs were caught from a hole in a tree in Dangirhat of the upazilla on Thursday.

Locals informed Panchagarh Deputy Commissioner (DC) and the local livestock department officer, but they declined to take responsibility of the cubs. Forest department also did not take any initiative to rescue the cubs.

Panchagarh correspondent of daily Prothom Alo Shahidul Islam tried without success to nurse the cubs to good health at his home. He fed them oral saline, vitamin C tablets and milk.

Shahidul's family members said they had tried to contact government officials several times but the officials declined co-operate.

On contact, Wildlife specialist Dr Ali Reza Khan said fishing cat cubs rarely survive in captivity. The milk they suckle is high on protein but low on carbohydrate while cow's milk is high on carbohydrate and low on protein. Feeding them regular milk causes malnutrition and diarrhoea leading to death in most cases.