Cruelty to animals: Dhaka court jails man in 2nd verdict

A court in Dhaka today sentenced a man to six months’ jail for burying two dogs and 14 puppies alive in Dhaka in October last year, in the second ever judgement in a case filed for cruelty against animal.

Convict Md Siddique, 45, who worked as security guard, is on the run since the case was filed against him.  

Metropolitan Magistrate in Dhaka Md Ahsan Habib also fined Siddique Tk 200, in default, to suffer seven days more in jail.

The punishment of Siddique will be effective from the day of his arrest or surrender.

In the case filed with Rampura Police Station, it was said that the security guard of Bagichartek Welfare Association, a local youth engagement club in Rampura, buried the dogs and puppies alive on October 25, 2017.

After getting information, Rakibul Haq Emil, founder and chairman of People for Animal Welfare (PAW) Foundation, along with police went there and recovered the bodies. Police then made inquest reports where they found injury marks on the bodies.

The news also caused a social media uproar among animal rights activists.

Later on November 11, Rakibul filed a case against Siddique with Rampura Police Station under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1920. On November 30, SI Nasiruddin and the investigation officer of the case pressed charges against Siddique.

Emil, who along with other members of the organisation was present at the court, expressed his satisfaction over the verdict.

FIRST JUDGMENT

Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Jesmin Ara Begum on May 11 last year delivered the first ever judgment under the act, fining Md Mamun of Savar Tk 300 in a case filed with Savar Police Station.

FIRST CASE

In July 2015, Bangladesh made the first arrest in an animal cruelty case. Police arrested three people for beating a dog in the streets of Rampura. Obhoyaronno, an animal welfare group, filed the case with Rampura Police Station. That case is now under trial.