Allegations raised against JUST authorities of culling 18 dogs

Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST) authorities have allegedly culled over 18 dogs.

The authorities, however, said they do not know anything about the killings.

The students of the university, alleged that the university authorities carried out the culling drive by hiring Jashore municipality workers.

They said the workers started trapping dogs in the campus area on Wednesday morning (September 28, 2022).

Municipal workers allegedly administered injections to the dogs which made them unconscious. They later buried the dogs in a mass grave inside the university, students said.

The students were reportedly informed of the culling by municipal workers.

Both the university authorities and Jashore Municipality authorities said that they do not know anything about the matter.

Abu Bakar, a master's student of the Department of Environmental Science, told The Daily Star that the municipal staff came at 7:00am and started trapping dogs.

"There weren't many students on the campus at that time as classes started at 10am. We came to know that the dogs were killed when people saw that the dogs were being taken away in a van," he said.

"We talked to the municipality authorities, university proctor, environment department and public relations department but could not find the reason behind the killings," he added.

Students have seen bodies of eight dogs lying in a hole, he said, adding that they later came to know from a municipal staff that over 18 dogs had been killed.

Condemning the incident, Rashed Khan, a master's student of Chemistry Department told The Daily Star, "When we asked the municipal staff, they informed us of killing 18 dogs. Students' presence on the campus was low that day as the Durga Puja holidays were about to begin.  Those who were there during the incident did not protest as they thought that the dogs were being given vaccines."

"As far as I know, the dogs on the campus are very quiet," said Gobinda Kumar Sen, a first-year student of the management department.

He added that the dogs never attacked anyone.

Another student Jabed Hossain said, "We had a friendly relationship with all the dogs on campus. I gave them all different names. I named the most loved one as David. That too was killed."

He claimed that it was done by taking advantage of the puja holidays.

Contacted, Anwar Hossain, vice-chancellor of the university, told The Daily Star, "I don't know who is involved in killing the dogs. No one has taken permission for this. But I am trying to find out the details."

JUST Proctor Hossain Al Imran said he was not aware of the incident.

Jashore Municipality Mayor Haider Gani Khan said no such activities were carried out at the campus area by the municipality.

Rakibul Haque Amil, founder president of People for Animal Welfare Foundation, said dogs cannot be killed as per the Animal Welfare Act.

"At a university campus, outsiders came and killed dogs in a heinous and illegal manner. The authorities cannot remain silent and avoid their responsibility," he said, asking the VC to take the responsibility of investigating the matter properly.