Authorities backtrack after animal rights group intervenes

An animal rights organisation has raised allegations against Cumilla City Corporation (CCC) of violating a High Court order against indiscriminate culling of dogs -- in different places of the city.

In a press release,  Rakibul Haq Emil, chairman of People for Animal Welfare (PAW) Foundation, said, “Cumilla City Corporation has been killing dogs indiscriminately for the last 15-20 days, in blatant violation of a High Court order against killing dogs, and what is a punishable offense according to section 7 of Animal Welfare Act 2019.

Sharing a video in which some men were seen picking up dogs using metal tongs and putting them in a cage, Emil claimed that conservancy staff of CCC were catching dogs in a brutal manner.

In a phone conversation with a representative of PAW Foundation, Alamgir Hossain, inspector of conservancies of CCC admitted that dog culling had taken place. “I know about the order of the high court. We are conducting drives because locals report against dogs.”

He claimed they were only picking up “sick” dogs, but could not confirm that the dogs were rabid, or how many people were bitten by dogs. He further said they were doing it upon “oral permission from the mayor and councilors,” and would not do it any more.

The Daily Star obtained a recording of the conversation, but could not reach Alamgir despite repeated attempts.

About the allegation, CCC sanitary inspector Mejbah Uddin said, “Everyday people come to us with complaints of dog bites. Dogs have bitten a primary school teacher, some college girls, and many people including school students have been complaining against dogs.”

CCC Mayor Monirul Haque Sakku, said, “Everyday a lot of people come to us complaining against dogs. As it is against the law, we will not carry out any drives against dogs any more. We only did it if anyone complained.” 

Dr Md Mozibur Rahman, Civil Surgeon of  Cumilla, told this newspaper, “Cumilla General Hospital is treating 50 to 100 people daily from all over the district who were bitten by dogs. In recent times, we did not identify any rabies-infected dogs or patients, but in general if a dog bites several people it is thought to be rabid.”