Horses’ death raises questions

Two out of 15 horses died at Sardah Police Academy within one week of their purchase from India.

Two other horses might die any moment following attack with fever, according to sources in the academy.

Old age and weakness were the reasons behind death of the horses, purchased at a cost of Tk 3 lakh each for training purpose at the academy, according to relevant sources.

Their death posed a question about their quality and physical fitness creating suspicion of irregularities during purchase of the horses.

The Dhaka bidder who was selected for tender of purchasing 50 horses, decided to bring the animals from India. A deputy inspector general (DIG) from police headquarters in Dhaka, an inspector from Rajarbagh Police Lines and the riding master of the police academy accompanied the contractor to India. They were supposed to examine physical fitness and quality of the horses during their purchase.

The horses were brought to the academy on May 26.

Horse riding is compulsory at the police academy, set up in 1912.

Principal Chowdhury Quamrul Ahsan of the Academy told journalists the government did not incur any loss due to death of the horses during their quarantine period under supervision of the concerned contractor.

'The horses were just kept at the academy. The contractor himself will be responsible for their death as we are yet to take charge of the horses', he said.

He further said a committee was formed by the government to investigate into the cause of death of the horses while specialists would examine them before we take charge of them.