In a shocking incident in Durga Pur village, Bakerganj upazila, Barisal, a group of local youths brutally killed a stray dog by tying a rope around its neck, hanging it from a tree, and beating it to death. The horrific act was captured on video and went viral on Facebook, triggering widespread condemnation and outrage among netizens. The incident has raised serious questions about animal cruelty and societal sensitivity.The video, which surfaced on social media, shows a stray dog standing on a dirt road near a canal with a thick rope tied around its neck, fastened to a branch of a nearby rain tree. One youth is seen pulling the rope tightly, while another mercilessly beats the dog's head with a heavy stick, shouting, “Record the video… record the video!” Four to five other youths and three to four children were present, clapping and chanting, “It’s not dead… it’s not dead!” The beating continued relentlessly until the dog’s head slumped lifelessly.
The video was shared on Facebook by Mozammel Hossain (Mohon), president of a local volunteer organization named “Gorber Bakerganj.” Hossain, who strongly condemned the act, stated, “I uploaded the video out of a sense of conscience after receiving it through a source. My home is in a nearby village. From what I’ve learned, the dog was harmless and had not harmed anyone. It was killed in such a brutal manner purely for sadistic pleasure.” He added, “This incident is not just about the killing of a dog; it raises a larger question about how we are becoming increasingly insensitive and cruel. When even an animal is not safe, it forces us to question how secure our humanity is.”
According to local sources, the incident occurred on Monday afternoon in Durga Pur village, Kalskathi Union. An eyewitness revealed that Khokon Hawlader (42), a resident of the village, tied the rope around the dog’s neck and hung it, while a teenage boy beat the animal with a stick. Another teenager recorded the video. The perpetrators claimed that the dog was killed because it, along with a few other stray dogs, had recently attacked goats and chased people in the area. However, Hossain refuted this, asserting that the dog was innocent and the act was unprovoked.
The viral video prompted swift action from the Bakerganj upazila administration. On Tuesday afternoon, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tanmoy Halder, accompanied by the upazila’s veterinary surgeon and livestock officer Amirul Islam, visited the site. After speaking with locals, they identified the individuals involved. Khokon Hawlader, the only adult among the group, was fined Tk 5,000 on the spot. The other perpetrators, being minors, were released after submitting a written undertaking not to engage in such acts in the future. The Union Parishad chairman and other local dignitaries were present during the proceedings.
Tanmoy Halder stated, “The dog was killed in such a brutal manner that the video is unbearable to watch till the end. Such cruel and inhumane treatment of animals is unacceptable and a punishable offense under the law. We have requested locals to immediately inform the upazila administration if such incidents occur again.”
Under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1920 (amended as the Animal Welfare Act, 2019), killing a stray animal is a punishable offense, carrying a penalty of up to six months in prison, a fine of up to Tk 10,000, or both. Additionally, keeping a dog tied or confined for 24 hours without allowing it to move freely is considered cruelty, with similar penalties.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about animal welfare and the need for greater awareness to prevent such acts of cruelty.
