Animal lovers have called for a new law to replace the Animal Welfare Act 2019 to protect animals and uphold their rights, and for a meeting with the relevant authorities of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock on these issues.

They made the demands at a human chain organised by the Animal Lovers of Bangladesh (ALB) Animal Shelter at Rabindra Sarobar in the capital on Friday afternoon (23 August).

Dipanwita Hridi, chairman and founder of ALB Animal Shelter, said: "We can establish Bangladesh as an example for animal lovers around the world, one that will ensure a safe future for animals everywhere."

She said that since independence, the government of Bangladesh had never been seen to take any notable step to protect the rights of helpless animals, especially ownerless animals in cities. In 53 years, no separate animal welfare department or wing had been set up under the livestock ministry. Like people, animals have been abused at every turn, and no one has paid attention to them.

"Across the country, at various times, we see evidence of animals' suffering and abuse, both through different media and first-hand. Because of various complications in the current law, these problems cannot be properly resolved. People who work with animals also face all kinds of obstacles, even physical and social harassment," Dipanwita Hridi said.

"Reform of the country is under way. We animal lovers want a proper new law for animals, so that on its basis not only is cruelty to animals stopped but the protection of all animals can be ensured," she said.

ALB Animal Shelter's demands are:

• ensuring fair rights for street and pet animals through the animal welfare law;
• a strong law with prison terms and fines for proper trials of cruelty to or killing of animals;
• making the animal welfare law cognisable;
• full police support in enforcing the animal welfare law;
• immediate action through mobile court magistrates in enforcing the law;
• the right of any Bangladeshi citizen or organisation to file a case directly at a police station under the animal welfare law;
• full rights for animal lovers to feed ownerless street animals;
• teams of Department of Livestock Services officials and animal welfare workers to curb animal cruelty and protect rights;
• a single animal welfare department or wing under the livestock ministry to help and monitor ownerless animals;
• a government project, through the DCC or livestock department, to sterilise and vaccinate ownerless dogs.

The organisation said that if numbers are controlled and rabies vaccines given, people's hostility towards these animals will lessen.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.