Animal lovers demand justice for elephant killing

Animal lovers in the capital formed a human chain demanding that the perpetrators of elephant killing be brought to book.

They raised the demand on Thursday in front of the forest department office at Agargaon in the capital and said the department was negligent.

The protest was triggered by the death of elephant calf which was crushed by a train in Uttara on Wednesday. Its mahout was using the mother elephant to extort people resulting in the calf being unattended.

Taking part in the human chain, Rakibul Haq Emil, founder of PAW (People for Animal Welfare) called for an end to private ownership of elephants.

"We urged the forest department not to issue anymore licence for private ownership of elephant as it creates the scope for the abuse of the majestic animal. Forest department must publish a list of people who own elephants and hold them accountable in case of any death resulting from negligence."

The protesters demanded that the mahout concered be arrested.

Abdul Awal Sarkar, conservator of forest (admin), told The Daily Star that a delegation placed their demand to him.

"We will publish the list of elephant owners by June 15, and will take action that is possible within our capacity," he said.