A migratory bird has been shot dead in Boalmari, Faridpur. Locals crowded round to see the bird, and Jubo League leader Mukul Molla filmed and photographed the scene and spread it on Facebook. The matter has since stirred a storm of discussion and criticism.

The incident took place at around 8:30pm on Thursday (6 November) in the Teljuri area of the upazila's Shekhar union.

Local people allege that Jubo League leader Mukul Molla made and spread the video, and that if he is questioned the real culprits can be caught.

On-the-spot inquiries found that a migratory bird had taken shelter on a mobile tower in the Chakpara area of Teljuri village. The bird weighed about two and a half kilograms. Local residents Al Amin Khandakar and Murad shot and killed it on the tower with an airgun. A crowd then gathered at the spot. Shekhar union Jubo League president Mukul Molla filmed the scene on his mobile phone and posted it on his own Facebook account. The photos and video went viral within moments, and the killing of migratory birds became a topic of debate in various circles.

The video shows people crowding round after the bird was shot, with some holding it. Many can be heard saying that Al Amin Khandakar and Murad shot the bird off the mobile tower.

Several people who did not want to be named said hundreds of migratory birds of various species are seen in the area. Hunters catch them with airguns, traps and nets and sell them, usually very early in the morning. In this way countless migratory birds are being killed every day.

Local resident Jafar Sheikh told Jagonews that people from Chakpara shot a large migratory bird off the tower with an airgun, but he could not say who did it.

Delwar Hossain, imam of a nearby mosque, told Jagonews: "After the bird fell, the youngsters brought it over. Then many people gathered. I don't know who killed it or what they did. But the bird would weigh about two kilograms. It is quite large. Its name is probably madantak [adjutant stork]. This is the first time I have seen a bird like this."

Yasin Molla, the Union Parishad member for local Ward 9, told Jagonews: "Although it happened in my ward, it is an incident in the Chakpara area. Nobody told me about it. Still, I will look into the matter."

The accused, Al Amin and Murad, could not be reached for comment, and were not found when their area was visited.

Shekhar union Jubo League president Mukul Molla told Jagonews: "I run a business at Moyendia Bazar. At around 8pm, on my way home after closing the shop, I saw a lot of people at that spot shouting. When I went there I saw that a large guest bird had been killed. Everyone was pulling at it and taking photos. Then I filmed it on my phone and spread it on Facebook. I don't know what happened to the bird afterwards. Actually, killing guest birds is not right. It is a legal offence. Besides, I should not have filmed it."

Boalmari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Tanvir Hasan Chowdhury told Jagonews that he had seen the photos and video. It is a legal offence, those responsible are being sought, and if the hunters can be caught red-handed they can be brought to justice, he said.

Faridpur divisional forest officer Md Tarikul Islam told Jagonews that no complaint had been received, but the matter would be looked into and the necessary action taken.

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