Abusing animals is one of the more concerning and heart-wrenching realities of what it means to be a Bangladeshi, as the phenomenon is far too prevalent in our nation with manifestations ranging from the casual torture of animals to even murder.
A recent Dhaka Tribune story paints a heart-breaking picture in which a neighbourhood dog was seemingly killed for no real reason other than the unfounded fear of animals in general. Affectionately named by some residents of Shwapnonagar Housing Society in Mirpur 12, Pirate was an adult male dog known for his playfulness.
Pirate was found dead in the locality with various bruises and other obvious signs of abuse on his body.
A society, indeed a nation, is not judged solely by its economic progress, as no amount of cars on the road or skyscrapers on the horizon will ever make us civilized. Instead, we are all judged by our capacity to co-exist with other living beings. And while we do have laws in place which seek to deter animal cruelty, they are seldom enforced to any meaningful degree.
But when the government itself has often, in the past, set the precedent regarding animal cruelty, with the culling of dogs having been ordered by city corporation officials in the past, it is of little surprise when the general, animal-fearing public become empowered to carry on with such retrograde attitudes.
Cruelty against animals is an entirely behavioural issue, and the only way to fix it is by spreading awareness -- from the abject state of animals in zoos to just how poorly strays are treated on the streets.
Animals such as dogs, cats, birds, and others may not be human, but their right to life is as inalienable as any person.
