48 tortoises rescued in Patuakhali

Forty-eight tortoises, which were rescued from a bus of Khulna-bound route, were handed over to the forest department in Patuakhali this morning.

A voluntary organisation named Animal Lovers rescued the tortoises around 10:00pm yesterday and handed over to the forest department around 11:30am today, said Rakayet Hossain, the team leader of the organisation's Khalapara upazila unit in the district.

The tortoises were packed in a sack and brought to BRTC bus terminal for smuggling, Rakayet said.

On information, the volunteers rescued the tortoises in an abandoned state, he added.

Contacted, Tarikul Islam, assistant forest conservator of Patuakhali forest department, said the rescued tortoises were released in Bahalgachhia Khal area near Patuakhali Sadar Upazila Parishad.