Animal cruelty case ends with Tk 300 stamp apology, raising legal concerns

A man accused of killing a dog by tying a rope around its neck and hanging it from a tree in Melandah upazila of Jamalpur was detained and later released after submitting a written apology on a Tk 300 stamp. The incident has drawn criticism from animal rights activists, who have raised questions over the effectiveness of law enforcement.

The incident took place on July 23 in front of Mahmudpur Adarsha High School in Melandah upazila. A video of the event later went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage.

Locals claimed that the accused, Raju Sarkar, committed the act in anger after a dog bit his goat. However, they said the goat did not die from the bite.

The wife of the accused's son, Sanjana Akhter, said, "What he did was wrong. The dog has killed goats before. Today it killed a goat, tomorrow it could eat chickens. It could also bite people. So he did this out of anger."

Melandah upazila Jubo Dal member secretary Sohel Rana said they identified the accused after receiving news of the incident and handed him over to police. "We expect law enforcement to take appropriate action against such cruel acts," he said.

Melandah Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Jinnatul Ara said that after the video went viral, the accused was questioned in the presence of local dignitaries in coordination with the livestock officer. The accused admitted his guilt and sought forgiveness.

The UNO said a written undertaking on a Tk 300 stamp was taken from him, promising not to engage in such acts in the future. He was also informed about the relevant laws on animal conservation and welfare.

However, animal rights activists have argued that under the Animal Welfare Act, 2019, there are provisions for punishment for cruelty to animals. Releasing the accused with just a written apology in a case involving the public hanging of a dog has raised serious questions about the proper application of the law.