Animal welfare was almost an alien concept in this part of the world even a few decades back. Even now little attention is paid to the horrific phenomenon of cruelty towards animals. Kids throwing rocks at a stray dog–not to mention other despicable things–throwing warm water on a domestic cat, catching house sparrows and killing them, breaking beautiful nests of birds is common. Many rural teens adventure consist of drowning with water fox-caves and if any manage to escape through sheer desperation beat it to death. And can we blame them? Not really, because their fathers and grandfathers did the same thing in their childhood. Pregnant cows are killed off and the meat of both the unborn calf and the cow is sold. Bullock carts are forced to carry way more goods and people than can be reasonably expected of them. To top it they are beaten mercilessly by the riders if they slag even slightly. The farmers beating bullocks during ploughing is another common scene. The bullocks used to operate the mustard oil press face similar abuse. Greedy milkmen sell off the milk (never forgetting to adding water and other spurious elements by the way) often depriving the new born calves. Preventing cruelty to animals
Though the draft bill is a commendable move to protect and prevent our animals from being needlessly killed or tortured – but similar to many existing good laws – it will have to be effectively implemented after the parliament finally passes the law. Without implementation a law is merely a legal provision in papers – nothing more
Syed Mehdi Momin
Animal welfare was almost an alien concept in this part of the world even a few decades back. Even now little attention is paid to the horrific phenomenon of cruelty towards animals. Kids throwing rocks at a stray dognot to mention other despicable thingsthrowing warm water on a domestic cat, catching house sparrows and killing them, breaking beautiful nests of birds is common. Many rural teens adventure consist of drowning with water fox-caves and if any manage to escape through sheer desperation beat it to death. And can we blame them? Not really, because their fathers and grandfathers did the same thing in their childhood. Pregnant cows are killed off and the meat of both the unborn calf and the cow is sold. Bullock carts are forced to carry way more goods and people than can be reasonably expected of them. To top it they are beaten mercilessly by the riders if they slag even slightly. The farmers beating bullocks during ploughing is another common scene. The bullocks used to operate the mustard oil press face similar abuse. Greedy milkmen sell off the milk (never forgetting to adding water and other spurious elements by the way) often depriving the new born calves.
Dozens of foxes are slaughtered everyday because it is believed that fox meat is a sure-fire cure for arthritis and other pain-related ailments. Bats are massacred because their meat supposedly cures asthma and other bronchial diseases. And it would take a long list to cover all the animalssome exotic and endangeredanimals that have to die for the bogus claim of them having aphrodisiac properties. Sweet water dolphins have been killed of to extinction for supposedly having medicinal qualities. Same has been the fate of Pangoli or Bon Ruis.
Apparently it does not require any reason to kill animals. We often hear about exotic fish or other sea animals swept ashore only to be killed by the locals. Many people in Bangladesh just dont understand that birds and animals have emotions and can feel pain and joy. In fact if anyone protests against these kinds of wanton cruelty they are ridiculed and harassed. Even acts of kindness towards animals are looked upon with some degree of suspicion. There is this gentleman who regularly feeds the monkeys of old Dhaka. He told this writer he had to face incredulity initially and later even hostility from the local people.
The greatness of a nation is judged by the way it treats its animals, Mahatma Gandhi. By the standard of the Mahatma we must be judged rather poorly as a nation. Cruelty towards animals is seemingly ingrained in our genes. Cruelty to animals is so common here that no one notices it. Perhaps it has become a symptom of deeper psychological malaise.
Thankfully though there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. By incorporating newer provisions such as jail term and fines for killing and showing acts of cruelty to animals the Cabinet has approved the final draft of the Animal Welfare Bill recently. Quite clearly the draft law has been proposed to upgrade and address the weaknesses and flaws in the antiquated colonial era Cruelty Act of 1920.
A positive feature in the draft is that the definition of animal has been clarified in the draft law - adding that all vertebrate except human being, domestic animals and pet animals would also come under the boundaries of the new law. The previous law certainly had limitations in defining animals under specific categories. Nevertheless, the amendment of the animal welfare law was long overdue in a country where torturing and killing animals is not a new phenomenon. However as the saying goes it is better late than never.
Three of the key features of the new law will hopefully decrease the rate of killing and persecuting animals in Bangladesh. First, anyone involved in the offences like killing an animal or injuring it intentionally will serve a maximum two years of jail or will be fined Tk 50,000 or perhaps both. Second, any member of the police holding the post of sub-inspector can file a case against any person for committing such offenses, and third, re-production of pet animals and their methods of management will have to be animal-friendly and registered with the concerned department.
Concerning the provision of filing cases, our opinion is that the police will have to be more pro-active, caring and humane in this regard. Given the current set of responsibilities and excessive workloads of our inspectors and sub-inspectors, it may not always be possible to avail their services for filing cases. A food for thought is - since sergeants and constables are more involved in field level duties, they are more prone for monitoring unwarranted killings and persecutions of our animals. An option for consideration is that, they too could be given some degree of authority for deterring killing and cruel acts shown to our animals within our cities and towns. Community policing also may help. Additionally, we expect to see a stringent legal condition for safeguarding our wild animals and migratory birds in the new welfare bill.
We are more often than not mute witnesses to acts of animal cruelty happening all around us. The fact is that laws do exist in Bangladesh against cruelty towards animals. However the law has become antiquated and is extremely inadequate for the present days. According to the Cruelty to Animals Act If any person kills any animal in an unnecessarily cruel manner he shall be punished with fine which may extend to two hundred Taka, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with both. Provided that nothing in this section shall render it an offence to kill any animal in a manner required by the religion or religious rites and usages of any race, sect, tribe or class, or for any bona fide scientific purpose or for the preparation of any medicinal drug.
As you can see the law is rather lenient. However few people and apparently even fewer law enforcers are aware of these laws in the face of such ignorance animals are helpless victims. There is an urgent need for amending the Prevention of Animal Cruelty Act and its strict implementation.
There have been documented reports that hundreds of calves are slaughtered everyday to satisfy our taste buds. Few people have any compunction in eating restaurants that sell such meat.
Thankfully, the number of snake-charmers, monkey and bear displayers is fading out. But they are disappearing for economic reasons rather than moral ones. The circuses continue to be popular. The circuses display a mockery of the magnificence of animals like the lion or the elephant. The various animals are made to do stupid acts to thrill people. In fact these animals undergo starvation and beatings before they learn to perform an act.
Now lets talk a bit about the pet markets. The deplorable state in which these animals are kept is abhorrent. The cages are packed with kittens, chicks and puppies so much so that there is no room for proper ventilation.
Many of the shops have secret chambers where exotic animals are kept. Dogs, deprived of affection and food, yelp constantly for attention.
In the Quran it is said All creatures on earth are sentient beings. There is not an animal on earth, nor a bird that flies on its wings - but they are communities like you. The Prophet has said It is a great sin for man to imprison those animals which are in his power People should be made aware that animals, birds, fish, plants are Gods creation like human beings are. They should be given the love, care and respect they are due. No one should be allowed to own a life form they are not prepared to honour. Cruelty, in any shape or form, cannot be condoned and the perpetrators must be taken to task.
Of foremost importance is to educate the public, since this is the best way to change expectations and sensibilities and, ultimately, to create more comprehensive animal-protection laws.
Following is a (partial) list of things that people in general can do to prevent cruelty to animals
Salvage ill-treated animals
Set up mobile clinics for stray dogs, cats and other animals
Carry out awareness campaigns for school kids
Save wildlife from poachers and hunters
Enhance the volunteer base to work for animal welfare
Though the draft bill is a commendable move to protect and prevent our animals from being needlessly killed or tortured but similar to many existing good laws it will have to be effectively implemented after the parliament finally passes the law. Without implementation a law is merely a legal provision in papers nothing more.
The writer is Assistant Editor ofThe Independent
