Around 10 dogs culled in Dhalpur

About 10 dogs were culled in the Dhaka's Dhalpur area on Saturday morning. 

The incident came to light when a video went viral on Facebook. The video shows a group of people catching the dogs with long iron tongs, injecting them with a chemical and then putting them in bags when they became unconscious.

Badal Sardar, ward commissioner of Jatrabari ward 49, told Dhaka Tribune locals were responsible for the culling.

“It was not a government drive. A few individuals from the neighborhood culled 8-10 dogs early in the morning,” he told this correspondent. 

“I did not order any dog culling drive. A few locals, probably heroin addicts, became angry after they were bitten by a dog. Later, they killed around eight to 10 dogs,” the ward commissioner added. 

Rubaiya Ahmad, founder of animal welfare organization Obhoyaronno, told Dhaka Tribune they contacted officials concerned after watching the video, to find out if the culling was ordered by the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). 

“I had a word with officials of the DSCC and they said they are unaware of any dog culling incident in that area. However, the question of how a group of individuals managed to get such equipment and cull dogs like a professional remains,” she said. 

When asked how the perpetrators managed to gather the equipment they used, Badal Sardar said most of the items are readily available in slum areas of the ward. He could not say what the chemical being injected into the dogs was.

The ward commissioner also said he had summoned the perpetrators to his office after learning of the incident.

“I rebuked them for their act and they vowed not to cull any dogs again,” he said. 

When contacted, Dhaka South City Corporation Chief Health Officer Brig Gen Sharif Ahmed said he is not aware of any order to cull dogs from his organization.  

Section 7 of the Animal Welfare Act, 2019 disallows the killing or removal of stray animals unless they are proven to be causing harm.

The DSCC recently faced public outcry after taking an initiative to relocate stray dogs from some areas in September.