Two fined Tk 20,000 for killing pet dogs

The Patuakhali Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Thursday, fined two people a total of Tk 20,000 for beating two pet dogs to death in Patuakhali Sadar upazila.

The court also ordered that each of them would have to serve 15 days of simple imprisonment if they failed to pay the fine. Judge Muhammad Abu Bakar of the Senior Judicial Magistrate First Court in Patuakhali pronounced the verdict.

The incident took place on July 23 in the Khejurtola Stand area of Auliapur Union in the upazila.
According to court and case records, two pet dogs were tied to an electric pole and beaten to death in the Dakshin Badura Khejurtola Stand area of Auliapur Union on July 23.

The incident came to the attention of the Patuakhali Sadar Upazila Livestock Officer after a video of the incident went viral on social media.

Later, Sadar Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Md Atiur Rahman filed a case under Section 7(2) of the Animal Welfare Act, 2019, and Section 428 of the Penal Code.

Manju Hawlader, 50, and Zahir Hawlader, 45, both of Dakshin Badura village, were accused in the case.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Advocate Muhammad Imran, said the court had imposed the maximum punishment prescribed for the offence under the Animal Welfare Act.

Each of the two accused was fined Tk 10,000, bringing the total fine to Tk 20,000. In default of payment, each will have to serve 15 days in jail, he said.

He added that the court’s verdict would help raise awareness about animal cruelty and play a positive role in preventing such crimes in the future.