Dog killed by crocodile in Bagerhat was not thrown intentionally: Probe Report

A dog killed by a crocodile in a pond adjacent to the shrine of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (R) in Bagerhat was infected with rabies, but was not deliberately thrown into the water, according to a district administration investigation.

A three-member probe committee submitted its report to the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Thursday (April 16), confirming that the incident was accidental.

The incident took place on April 8 at the shrine ghat, when the pond’s only crocodile, locally known as “Dhola Pahar,” attacked and killed the dog. The footage quickly went viral on social media, triggering public debate and allegations that the animal had been intentionally fed to the crocodile.

To investigate, the district administration formed a committee headed by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Bagerhat Sadar, Atiya Khatun.

A post-mortem examination was conducted on April 11 under the supervision of the Department of Livestock Services, and samples were sent to the Central Disease Investigation Laboratory (CDIL) in Dhaka. The laboratory report, received on April 15, confirmed that the dog was infected with rabies.

District Livestock Officer Saheb Ali said the rabies infection poses no risk to the crocodile, but warned that humans exposed to bites or scratches from the dog should take immediate vaccination.

UNO Atiya Khatun said the investigation found no evidence that the dog was deliberately thrown into the crocodile’s mouth. She added that the dog had bitten several people, including a shrine security guard, who later received anti-rabies vaccination.

Deputy Commissioner Golam Mohammad Baten also confirmed that both the post-mortem and investigation report concluded the dog was rabid and the incident was accidental.