Case Filed Over Drowning of Eight Puppies in Ishwardi

A case has been filed at Ishwardi Police Station after eight puppies were allegedly drowned in a pond after being placed inside a sack near the Ishwardi Upazila Parishad area. Upazila Livestock Officer Aklima Khatun filed the case on Tuesday night (2 December) under Section 7 of the Animal Welfare Act 2019. Officer-in-Charge Abdun Noor confirmed it.

According to Aklima Khatun, the case was filed under instructions from the Director General of the Department of Livestock Services, naming Nishi Begum, wife of Small Farmers Foundation officer Hasanur Rahman Noyon, as the accused. She said the incident drew massive attention after circulating in the media and on social networks. Adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Farida Akter, described the act as inhumane and directed firm action. The Director General also ordered the filing of the case.

The accused officer’s family was instructed to vacate the government quarters, and they complied. A team from the Animal Activist Committee arrived from Dhaka for investigation.

Photos of the dead puppies went viral on Monday morning, sparking widespread condemnation. People demanded punishment for those responsible. Local media representatives visited the site, and the incident was highlighted by online news portals and national newspapers.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Moniruzzaman said Noyon had been asked to leave the quarters by Tuesday, and he did so. Attempts to reach him failed.

At the quarter, Nishi Akhtar was preparing to leave. She stated that the puppies stayed near the stairs and caused disturbance, so she placed them in a bag by the pond but denied throwing them into the water.

The puppies drowned on Sunday evening. Their mother searched and cried throughout the night. On Monday morning, Noyon’s son revealed that his mother had thrown the puppies into the pond. The bodies were found inside a floating sack.

The mother dog became distressed after seeing the dead puppies. Livestock staff later treated her and administered a sedative injection.

Khaborwala/TSN