9 jailed for poaching endangered animal in Moulvibazar

A mobile court has jailed nine poachers for killing an endangered hedgehog in Moulvibazar.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Executive Magistrate Mohammad Shamim Al Imran passed the order on Saturday night.

According to mobile court sources, the forest department arrested nine people for hunting hedgehogs in Madhabkund Ecopark area around 7:30pm on Saturday.

Upon receiving the news, Mohammad Shamim Al Imran went to the spot. The detainees pleaded guilty before a mobile court.

The court sentenced Subal Bhumij, 25, and Jag Rabichandra, 25, to one month's imprisonment without parole under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2012 for their direct involvement in the killing of hedgehogs. They were sent to the district jail at night.

Also read: Tiger population at risk in Sundarbans: 38 tigers died in 20 years in Bangladesh

Ukil Santal, 35, Budhu Santal, 26, Omesh Santal, 30, Ramesh Santal, 32, Kartik Santal, 35, Ram Santal, 30 and Krishna Santal, 35 were each fined Tk10,000 for assisting in killing the animals.

"Hills and wildlife are an integral part of our nature. We will continue to work to protect them," said Shamim Al Imran. 

Many species of wild animals have either gone extinct or become endangered in Bangladesh due to poaching and habitat loss in recent decades.

According to a survey conducted in 2018, there were only 114 tigers in the Sundarbans.