Three Sentenced to 2.5 Years for Killing Dogs in Jatrabari

Three individuals have been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for the brutal killing of 20 dogs in Jatrabari, Dhaka. The court ruled that the three accused killed the dogs using iron rods, sharp weapons, and deadly injections, committing the crime in a medieval and barbaric manner.

The court delivered the verdict on Sunday, March 8, with Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Zakir Hossain presiding over the case. The convicted individuals are Md. Abul Khayer, Md. Apu, and Md. Manik.

According to the ruling, the defendants were found guilty under Section 16(k) of the Animal Welfare Act, 2019, which stipulates 6 months of imprisonment and a fine of 1,000 Taka for each offense, with an additional 15 days of imprisonment in case of non-payment of the fine. Under Section 16(b) of the same law, they were also sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment and a fine of 1,000 Taka, with another 15 days of imprisonment for non-payment. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning each accused will serve a total of 2 years in prison.

At the time of the verdict, Md. Manik was present in court and was sent to jail under a warrant of arrest. The other two accused, Md. Abul Khayer and Md. Apu, are still on the run, and the court has issued arrest warrants for them.

According to the case details, the accused killed the dogs on January 23, 2021, in the Litchu Bagan area of Dhola Pur, Jatrabari, by using iron rods, sharp weapons, and deadly injections. The perpetrators disposed of the bodies by placing them in bags. The incident came to light after video footage of the killings surfaced, leading to the identification of the accused.

During the investigation, the accused reportedly threatened animal rights activists and the complainant, Md. Maruful Haque, who filed the case on behalf of Animal Lovers of Bangladesh. Following the investigation, Abul Khayer Mollah, Md. Apu, and Md. Manik were found to have been directly involved in the killings.

The trial began in May 2024, and the court examined the testimonies of three witnesses during the proceedings.