A rabid dog has bitten 23 people in different parts of Sherpur town. The attacks took place over five hours, from 9am to 2pm on Thursday (29 April), in the town's Kusumhati, East Sheri, West Sheri and Kasba neighbourhoods.

Victims said the dog was biting people on various parts of the body and running at anyone it saw. Local people tried to catch it, but it kept moving quickly, and now it cannot be found.

The injured are being treated at Sherpur Sadar Hospital. "The dog bit some on the leg, some on the hand, some on the stomach and some on the back, however it could get them. In some cases flesh was torn away where it bit," said Robiul Mia, one of the injured.

Hasmat Ali, also bitten, said: "We are very frightened of that rabid dog. We tried to catch it, but it changes place in an instant, so we cannot."

Khairul Kabir Sumon, resident medical officer (RMO) of Sherpur Sadar Hospital, said: "By 2pm we had treated 23 injured patients. If the rabid dog is not caught, it will harm more people."

Sherpur municipality mayor Alhaj Golam Mohammad Kibria Liton said: "Dog nuisance has recently increased across Sherpur town, but dogs cannot be culled because of legal barriers. The municipality's conservancy section has already been assigned to catch the rabid dog that bit 23 people on Thursday. I hope it will be caught soon and people will be safe."

District civil surgeon Dr AKM Anwarur Rauf said: "I have heard about the dog bites. The injured are now being treated at Sadar Hospital."

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