The court order follows a Forest Department investigation into the widely shared killing of protected wildlife, highlighting renewed concerns over wildlife law enforcement and conservation challenges in Bangladesh.
A court in Bangladesh’s southern city of Barishal has ordered police to register a case against 10 people accused of killing seven jackals, following a complaint filed by the Bangladesh Forest Department. On July 8, reports and images circulated on social media showing that seven jackals had been killed in an open field area of the city, with the meat allegedly being shared among people and consumed.
Barishal Metropolitan Judicial Magistrate Mirajul Islam Russell issued the order on Monday after a hearing, court officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The accused include residents of Ward No. 26 in Barishal city: Nurul Islam, Mohammad Harich, Md. Kamal Khalifa and Jamal Khalifa. Six other individuals have been listed as unidentified accused in the case.
The allegations have been filed under Section 41(3) of Bangladesh’s Wildlife Conservation and Security Act, 2026, which prohibits the illegal killing, hunting or exploitation of protected wildlife species.
According to the complaint, seven jackals were killed on July 8 in an open field area of Ward No. 26 in Barishal city. Images and reports showing the animals being killed, their meat divided among people and allegedly consumed later circulated widely on social media, prompting public concern and drawing the attention of the authorities.
Following the reports, officials from the Forest Department visited the site and confirmed the incident. However, the individuals allegedly involved had gone into hiding, preventing immediate arrests.
Barishal Sadar Range Forest Officer Arifur Rahman filed a complaint with the Chief Metropolitan Judicial Magistrate Court on July 12, seeking legal action against those identified during the investigation.
After reviewing the complaint, the court directed Kotwali Model Police Station to register the case and investigate the incident before submitting a report.
“Following instructions from the Divisional Forest Officer, an investigation was conducted after the incident. Based on the findings, we have sought legal action against those identified as being involved,” Forest Officer Arifur Rahman said.
The incident has renewed attention on wildlife protection challenges in Bangladesh, where habitat changes, human-wildlife conflict and illegal killing continue to put pressure on native species.
Jackals play an important role in maintaining ecological balance by controlling rodents and acting as natural scavengers. Although they remain widely distributed across parts of South Asia, conservationists warn that local populations face increasing threats from habitat loss, human conflict and declining awareness about their ecological importance.
Wildlife experts say stronger enforcement of conservation laws, along with greater public awareness, is essential to protect Bangladesh’s biodiversity and prevent future wildlife crimes.
The investigation will determine the full extent of involvement in the incident and whether further legal action will be taken against others linked to the killing.
