The rat catcher

Anwar Hossain has been trapping and killing rats since he was 16.

The 57-year-old man can be seen on the streets and haat-bazars in different districts of the northern region including Lalmonirhat and Kurigram. He also sells poisons to kill rats. Anwar Hossain is now popularly called 'Rat Man'.

He deposits the tails of 10-12 thousand dead rats to the agriculture office every year. In return, he receives cash incentives and gift items from the agriculture office.

Anwar Hossain is the son of late Abdul Jabbar of Nurnagar village in Tilakpur union of Joypurhat's Akkelpur upazila.

His family comprises his wife, a son and a daughter.

He was found selling rat killing poisons in Dalpatti area of ​​Lalmonirhat town recently. When approached, he said he sells poisons to kill rats. He earns Tk 500 to Tk 600 daily by selling the poisons.

"Farmers call me to kill rats. I kill rats infesting crop fields and houses and collect the tails of dead rats. Being pleased, farmers give me a bounty of up to Tk 200 to Tk 500," said Anwar.

"I don't know any magic to catch rats. I just use strategy. I have become accustomed to catching rats. Rats can't run away from me," he said, adding that "I deposit the tails of 10-12 thousand rats to Akkelpur Agriculture Office every year."

He has received several national awards and certificates from the Department of Agriculture for participating in the National Rat Extermination Campaign, Anwar added.

"I want to stay involved in the rat-killing campaign till I die," he said.

"Rats cause a lot of damage to crops and furniture. My small efforts relieve farmers' families of rat infestation. I am happy with my job," said Anwar.

Mantu Mia, a farmer from Khochabari village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, said his family was upset with the rat infestation. Later, Anwar was called and he successfully got rid of all the rats. Anwar also caught and killed the rats from his crop field.

Shamim Ashraf, deputy director of Department Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Lalmonirhat, said rats are very harmful to crops. Rat killing drives are conducted every year.

Anwar Hossain ranks number one in killing rats in the northern region and of course, he is benefiting the farmers by killing rats, said the DAE official.