"Originally when the zoo was established it was made a smoking free zone. It was however never enforced properly. Last week we just reinstated the previous rule", said Kazi Fazlul Haque, Curator, Dhaka Zoo.

With the help of a social organisation Pratyasha, Dhaka zoo authority started the campaign against smoking in public from last week. Pratyasha donated 20 signboards to the zoo sending massages about the ill effects of smoking to the visitors.

Situated in Mirpur, the zoo covers an area of about 186 acres. On average the Dhaka Zoo attracts around 7 to 10 thousand visitors. The numbers reaches up to 30 thousand on Fridays and other holidays.

Haque said that the zoo officials alone cannot monitor so many people inside the premise. "If we find anyone smoking inside the premise we will ask them to refrain from doing so. If they still continue we will ask them to leave the premise"

"We do not have the power beyond that. It is not possible to enforce the law without public awareness", he said.

Haque mentioned that with a few security personnel sanctioned, it is almost impossible to maintain the security.

Currently the zoo has only 20 Ansars sanctioned to maintain the security. "We have positions for another 40 in house security personnel, 20 of the position however is vacant", said Haque.

Due to lack of awareness about the ill effect of second hand smoking, people tend to smoke in public spaces violating the Smoking and Tobacco Product Usage (Control) Act 2005.

The law bans smoking in public places and in vehicles. Punishment for smoking in public places is a fine of Tk. 50 fine, which the public ignore.

Educational institutions, government and non-government offices, libraries, lifts, healthcare establishments, airports, seaports, bus, launch and railway terminals, ferries, cinemas, theatres and other halls, markets and shopping malls and children's parks are defined as public place in the act.

Soon the zoo authority will also announce it a polythene free zone. "People litter inside the premise throwing packets anywhere they like. Most visitors arrive with little children. We want to create a better environment for them"

"Often visitors throw potato chips inside cages. It is harmful for the animals, which is why we are banning polythene and related objects"

There are about 189 species of animals in the facility. Among them there are 70 types of mammals including Elephant, Royal Bengal Tiger, Cheetah, Rhinoceros, Zebras, different species of Monkeys and Chimpanzees, Hippos and more.

There are about 74 species of birds, 16 species of Reptiles including snakes and crocodiles. There is a huge aquarium showcasing around 400 fish. The birdcage has about 1200 birds.