A forest official in Bangladesh’s hill district of Khagrachhari faces allegations of eating a wild chicken after authorities claimed it had been released into the forest, prompting local criticism and calls for an investigation into possible wildlife protection violations.
A forest official in Bangladesh’s southeastern hill district of Khagrachhari has been accused of eating a wild chicken after authorities claimed it had been released into the forest, prompting criticism from local residents and calls for an investigation.
The allegation emerged in Guimara upazila after forest department staff said they had rescued a wild chicken and released it into nearby forestland.
Local sources said the bird was seized from a passerby around noon on March 5 near the Jaliapara Range Office. Officials later announced that the bird had been released back into the wild and shared a photograph of the supposed release on social media.
The image, however, quickly raised doubts among residents, who claimed the chicken shown in the photo appeared to be a domestic bird rather than the wild one that had been confiscated earlier.
Witnesses said the seized bird had reddish and dark feathers and a comparatively long tail. Because of its unusual appearance, several people photographed it at the time.
Locals say those photos do not match the chicken shown in the image shared online by forest officials.
Residents have alleged that the wild chicken may instead have been eaten, raising suspicions about the role of Mohammad Sirajul Islam, the range officer of the area.
The allegation has sparked widespread discussion and criticism among residents.
Hridoy Barua, a volunteer involved in wildlife conservation in the hill region, said the incident reflected deeper concerns about wildlife protection.
“Unfortunately, some dishonest officials posted in the hills fail to act as protectors and instead become predators,” he said. “Such behaviour is unacceptable for those entrusted with protecting wildlife.”
Residents said the allegations were particularly troubling because forest officials are responsible for safeguarding wildlife and enforcing conservation laws. They have called for a transparent investigation and appropriate action if the claims are proven.
Attempts to contact Range Officer Mohammad Sirajul Islam for comment were unsuccessful.
Forest department officials said that if such allegations are formally reported, the matter will be investigated and necessary action taken.
Under Bangladesh’s Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, killing or consuming wildlife without authorisation is a punishable offence.
