Police on Tuesday night arrested three individuals for illegally hunting and transporting nearly 700 slaughtered birds from the banks of the Ichamati River in Anwara upazila, Chattogram.
Authorities recovered a total of 697 dead birds, including 135 common mynas (Shalik), 422 sparrows (Chorui), and 140 weaver birds (Babui).
According to police, the suspects were preparing to sell the birds to restaurants, falsely marketing them as quail meat.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Md. Syedul Alam (60) from Azamulla Para, Md. Idris (65) from Mohori Para, and Md. Sohel (30) from the old house of Shamsul Soudagar, all residents of Shovandondi Union in Patiya upazila.
Confirming the arrests, Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Monir Hossain of Anwara Police Station said that the Ichamati River’s croplands attract thousands of birds searching for food.
“The accused captured the birds by setting up nets over the fields and later slaughtered them. After plucking their feathers using hot water, they sold the birds to restaurants as quail meat,” OC Monir said.
“Acting on a tip-off, we set up a checkpoint in the upazila sadar area and intercepted a CNG-run auto-rickshaw. Upon inspection, we discovered two sacks filled with dead birds and arrested three individuals, including the driver,” he added.
A case has been filed against the suspects under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2012, and they have been presented before the court.
“The recovered birds remain in our custody, but they must be buried soon, as decomposition has already begun. We have sought expert guidance from the Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division of the Forest Department on how to proceed,” the OC further stated.
‘A Serious Threat to Biodiversity’
Dipannita Bhattacharjee, Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Officer of Chattogram, emphasized the critical ecological role of local bird populations.
“These birds are essential for pest control, agricultural productivity, and pollination. Hunting them in such large numbers poses a severe threat to the region’s biodiversity,” she said.
She also criticized legal shortcomings that allow offenders to evade strict punishment.
“Killing 697 birds is a brutal crime. Unfortunately, due to loopholes in the law, the accused will likely secure bail soon after appearing in court. Under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2012, wildlife trafficking is considered a non-cognizable offense, meaning offenders often go unpunished and continue their crimes,” she added.
