Toxic cruelty in Mohammadpur as ‘10 dogs, 1 cat killed by poisoning’

A complaint has been filed with the police, alleging that 10 stray dogs and a cat were poisoned and killed at Japan Garden City housing complex in Mohammadpur, Dhaka.

Actress Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed filed the general diary on 23 November, stating that some residents, along with the People for Animal Welfare (PAW) Foundation, discovered that the animals died after consuming poisoned food in the area over the past few days.

The incident violates the Animal Welfare Act of 2019.

According to the complaint, residents witnessed stray dogs and the cat shaking, writhing in pain, and vomiting blood "due to poisoning". Most of them died shortly after.

Nawshaba further accused Shahanur, general secretary of the Japan Garden City Flat Owners' Association, of orchestrating the poisoning in collusion with some local residents.

Despite repeated attempts, Shahanur could not be reached for comment.

In response, Adabar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahfuz Imtiaz Bhuiyan confirmed that police are taking appropriate legal action. "A police team visited the area Friday night," he said.

Nawshaba expressed concern for other stray dogs and cats at the complex, saying, "If this happened to people, we would form a human chain and demand justice. But animals and birds have no voice. When they suffer, they can't speak up. 

"We must protest against such cruelty and ensure those responsible face exemplary punishment."

Dhaka North's Deputy Chief Health Officer, Dr Md Emdadul Hoque, told The Business Standard, "We have heard about the incident. We will investigate further tomorrow [Sunday] and take necessary actions. There is no dog culling programme or any similar initiative by the city corporation."

Celebrities, including Jaya Ahsan, Niloy Alamgir, and Jannatul Sumaiya Himi, expressed their outrage on social media, condemning the animal cruelty.

Punishable offence

The Cruelty to Animals Act, 1920, under Section 11, states that feeding an animal poisonous food, administering harmful medicine, or applying poison to an animal's body is a punishable offence if it leads to the animal's death or permanent disability.

Under Section 16, those found guilty of such offences can face imprisonment for up to two years, a fine of up to Tk50,000, or both.