Authorities have recovered 1,104 exotic animals—including venomous tarantulas and Mexican black kingsnakes—from a property in Mirpur's Rupnagar area, where they were allegedly being kept illegally for sale.
Wildlife experts say the illegal import and trade of such species pose a serious threat to Bangladesh's biodiversity and ecosystems while increasing the risk of introducing new diseases.
Because these animals are considered venomous, hazardous, and potentially harmful to native wildlife, Bangladeshi law prohibits their import without proper authorization. The seizure has also raised questions about how prohibited species continue to enter the country and circulate in the domestic market.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune on Tuesday night, Rupnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Noman Hossain said two suspects linked to the case remain at large and that police are continuing operations to apprehend them.
"If any foreign spiders, snakes, or other prohibited venomous animals are found, legal action will be taken immediately," he said.
The OC said the recovered animals—including venomous tarantulas and Mexican black kingsnakes—had been kept illegally for commercial sale.
"We are investigating why these prohibited animals were brought into the country. Besides financial motives, we are examining whether there are other factors involved. Police are also searching for the masterminds behind the operation," he added.
Why are these animals being imported?
According to the Bangladesh Forest Department, the animals were being kept in aquariums on the rooftop of a residential building in Rupnagar for commercial sale.
Although the Wildlife Crime Control Unit seized 1,104 animals during the raid, officials believe nearly 6,000 exotic animals had been kept at the location. Around 5,000 animals—including snakes, spiders, frogs, and turtles—had reportedly been sold before the operation.
The recovered animals included venomous tarantulas, corn snakes, dumpy frogs, leopard geckos, side-neck turtles, and several other exotic species.
Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury told Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday night that importing such animals legally requires approval from a scientific committee.
"They may have been brought in as exotic pets, but these wildlife species can have devastating impacts on the environment," he said.
"Without scientific assessment, we cannot determine what diseases they may carry or how they will affect native ecosystems. If these animals escape into the wild, the consequences may only become evident after 20 to 25 years."
He added that preliminary information suggests the animals entered Bangladesh through the airport before they were intended to be smuggled into India.
"There needs to be stronger monitoring at airports as well as in the domestic market to prevent the illegal trade and keeping of exotic animals. There are clear shortcomings in the oversight of imported pets," he said.
Bangladesh emerging as a trafficking route
Adnan Azad, convener of the Bangladesh Animal Welfare Association, said there are generally two reasons for importing such animals: keeping them as exotic pets and smuggling them to other countries.
"Bangladesh has become an important transit route for wildlife trafficking," he told Dhaka Tribune. "Animals are brought from countries such as Thailand into Bangladesh and are later smuggled into India through land borders."
He said there is also a growing domestic market for exotic wildlife.
"Many people keep exotic turtles in aquariums as pets. However, once they grow too large, owners often release them into nearby lakes or other water bodies, from where they eventually reach rivers. These invasive species are extremely destructive to local ecosystems."
According to Azad, the animals prey on small fish, fish eggs, and aquatic vegetation, severely disrupting ecosystems. Their rapid breeding makes them an even greater conservation concern.
What does the law say?
The seizure has renewed concerns over enforcement of Bangladesh's wildlife import regulations.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Sayeed Ahmed Raja told Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday that no foreign wild animal can legally be imported into Bangladesh without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Wildlife Crime Control Unit, the required government approvals, and a valid certificate under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
He said bringing venomous snakes, spiders, or other wildlife into the country in luggage or concealed among other goods without proper permits and quarantine procedures constitutes wildlife smuggling.
Under Bangladeshi law, anyone found guilty of illegally importing, exporting, possessing, or trading foreign wildlife or venomous species may face up to three years in prison, a fine, or both. Repeat offenders face tougher penalties, including longer prison terms and higher fines.