Panic in Bogura as jackals bite eight in one day, residents stand guard

It was 10 pm, and at the entrance of Kazipara village, several young men were seen standing guard with sticks. Moving forward, men and women of various ages could be seen standing alert at every crossroads, sticks in hand. Fear was etched on every face. This was their preparation to protect themselves from jackal attacks.

The incidents occurred in Kazipara and Baldipalan villages of Madla union in Shajahanpur upazila, Bogura.

The jackal attacks began in the two villages on Saturday afternoon, February 28. By 10 pm that night, at least eight people had been injured by jackal bites.

The injured include Jahangir Alam, 40, of Baldipalan village; his son Atikul, 18; Nargis Akter, 37, of the same village; Mokbul Hossain, 60; and Abdur Razzaque, 60, of Kazipara village, among several others.

They said jackals suddenly pounced on people and began biting them. Two cows were also bitten by jackals, spreading panic throughout the village.

Later on Saturday night, villagers gathered and launched an operation to kill the jackals. One jackal was beaten to death by villagers during that time.

At least ten residents of Kazipara village, including Mottakinul Islam and Al Amin, said preparations are underway to take to the fields to kill jackals after announcements are made over the loudspeakers of two mosques in the two villages on Sunday.

The injured from jackal bites said they will go to Bogura's Mohammad Ali Hospital on Sunday to receive vaccinations.

When contacted, Madla Union Parishad Chairman Md Atiqur Rahman said, "I have heard about the incident. I have advised all those attacked by jackals to go to hospital quickly for vaccination. Necessary measures will be taken to deal with the jackals."