The parliament last night passed the Animal Welfare Bill 2019, aiming to stop cruelty towards animals and defines the duties of their owners. 

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock M Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru placed the bill, which was passed by voice vote.

The proposed law will repeal the current Cruelty to Animals Act, 1920.

Severing any organ of an animal or killing any animal with poison will be considered an offence under the new law, and the punishment for this will be maximum two years imprisonment or Tk 50,000 fine, or both.

However, slaughtering of animals as per religious customs will not be considered cruelty.

Another bill, titled “Bangladesh Veterinary Council Bill, 2019” was also passed yesterday, aiming to maintain the professional standard of veterinary practitioners and extend quality healthcare services for fighting animal diseases.

The proposed law will repeal Bangladesh Veterinary Practitioners Ordinance, 1982.

If anyone engages in veterinary practice without registration and certificate, they will be imprisoned for three years or fined maximum Tk two lakh, or both.