2 sentenced imprisonment for hunting egrets

A mobile court in Pirganj upazila of Thakurgaon has sentenced two individuals to one year of simple imprisonment each for hunting egrets and keeping them confined in cages. Additionally, each was fined Tk 500, with a provision for an extra 15 days of imprisonment in default of payment.

The convicted individuals are Shakib Islam, son of Abu Bakkar Siddique, and Rashidul Islam, son of the late Kalim Uddin. Both hail from Chapaitar village in Bochaganj upazila of neighbouring Dinajpur district.

Executive Magistrate and Pirganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Golam Rabbani Sardar conducted the mobile court proceedings on Thursday (October 1). During the operation, approximately 15 egrets that had been held captive in cages were released into the wild.

UNO Golam Rabbani Sardar said the egrets had been hunted for sale in violation of wildlife conservation laws. The two individuals were sentenced after admitting their guilt.

Iqbal Hossain Pramanik, officer-in-charge (OC) of Pirganj Police Station, confirmed that the two convicted individuals were sent to Thakurgaon District Jail in the afternoon.

According to Pirganj Forest Beat Officer Mohsin Ali and local administration sources, the egrets were being hunted using traps near the Kalupir-Thumnia Sal forest in the upazila on Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, the forest beat officer and his team conducted a raid and detained four individuals. Traps used for hunting and 15 caged egrets were recovered from their possession.

Upon receiving the news, UNO Golam Rabbani Sardar arrived at the scene to investigate the matter. As Shakib and Rashidul confessed to the crime, they were sentenced to imprisonment and fined.

The other two individuals, being minors, were handed over to their families after written undertakings were obtained from them.