A court in Feni has ordered Jasim Uddin of Shanti Company Road in Feni town, the main accused in the public beating to death of two mother dogs and their nine puppies, to appear before it.

The order was issued on Tuesday (9 July) by the court of Feni Senior Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Ashekur Rahman. Advocate Shafiqul Islam Pias, lawyer for the plaintiff, confirmed the information on Wednesday (10 July).

On Tuesday, Feni Sadar Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Shahidul Islam Khokon submitted the investigation report in the case to the court. The report said prima facie evidence had been found of the involvement of Jasim Uddin, son of Kalamia of Shanti Company Bari on Shanti Company Road, in beating the two mother dogs and nine puppies to death.

The plaintiff, Enam Hossain, said that on 4 February Jasim Uddin and two associates beat the two mother dogs and nine puppies to death in public for no reason. By killing 11 dogs in public without permission, the accused violated the animal welfare law, he said. If they are not punished, others will be encouraged to kill animals.

Advocate Shafiqul Islam Pias said this was the first case filed in Feni over the killing of animals. The investigation committee found prima facie evidence of the main accused's involvement, but his two associates could not be identified. Taking cognisance of the offence under section 16 (ka) of the Animal Welfare Act 2019, the court has issued a summons for the accused to appear on 29 July.

Enam Hossain, director of Animal Aid Feni, filed the case against three people with the Feni Senior Judicial Magistrate's court on 1 April. The judge took cognisance of the case and ordered the Feni Sadar Upazila Livestock Officer to submit an investigation report.

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