On Sunday evening, three stray dogs in Banani Old DOHS were suspected of being poisoned. Locals alerted rescuer Abdul Kaiyum, who quickly stepped in to provide medical care.
Two of the dogs received on-the-spot treatment with IV saline and raw eggs, but the condition of the third was more serious, requiring transfer to a veterinary clinic.
Kaiyum later confirmed the poisoning to Dhaka Tribune, describing the affected dog's symptoms: “The dog’s breathing was fast, there was foaming at the mouth, and it vomited multiple times.”
He said: “The dog is well now. I’ve returned it to the area.”
The individual responsible for the poisoning has yet to be identified.
However, concerns are growing over the possibility of culling, relocating, or confining stray dogs in the residential area, which worries local animal welfare advocates.
On Saturday, activists from various animal welfare groups held a protest over these concerns. Labiba Rabab, a member of the Banani Old DOHS Animal Welfare Organization (BODAWO), voiced her worries to Dhaka Tribune.
Labiba alleged that, at a meeting on October 21, the council discussed plans to cull, relocate, or confine stray dogs.
In response, BODAWO sent a letter to the Banani DOHS Council on October 22, requesting collaboration to develop a long-term solution.
The letter argued that culling or relocating dogs would be ineffective. According to Labiba, the council has yet to respond to the letter.
Brig Gen (Retd) Md Ahsan Habib, member of the Banani DOHS Council sub-committee, denied any involvement of the council in the poisoning of the dogs, referring to such claims as untrue.
In September, the Banani DOHS council issued a notice saying that it had received complaints about stray dogs attacking residents.
In response to the notice, Labiba wanted proof of attacks and said she would take responsibility for any incident. She said: “They did not provide any videos, photos, or CCTV footage of the incidents. The council’s response was that CCTV does not work in the residential area, which is a security concern.”
The council had also requested detailed documentation, including color photographs with the names and ages of the dogs, proof of vaccination, and a team to monitor the dogs between 5-8am and 4-7pm.
BODAWO submitted the necessary documents but reportedly received no reply.
According to BODAWO, all dogs within the residential area are fully vaccinated and 99% are sterilized. Professional trainers have also trained the dogs to mitigate aggressive behaviour.
Bangladesh's Animal Welfare Act 2019 prohibits the culling or relocation of stray animals, mandating penalties of up to six months’ imprisonment, a Tk10,000 fine, or both.
The act further states that, if a violation occurs, governing body members of any responsible organization will be held accountable.
Labiba expressed fears of a repeat of the 2018 culling incident, which, she recalled, took place without any written notice following an AGM discussion and was executed within two days.
She said: “If they don’t cull the dogs, they may opt for relocation or confinement in a large cage.”
A previous letter to the council in 2022 highlighted the fact that culling or relocating dogs is ineffective for population control, as dogs from outside areas quickly replace relocated ones, causing the cycle of complaints to continue.
