Following the tragic death of a seven-year-old girl at a pond adjacent to the Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (R) shrine, district authorities have decided to relocate the crocodile to the Sundarbans Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Centre.
The decision was taken during an emergency meeting held on Tuesday night to ensure the safety of local and foreign visitors to the shrine.
The meeting, chaired by Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner Golam Mohammad Baten at 10pm in the district administration conference room, was attended by officials from the district administration, police, forest department, and other relevant departments.
After the session, Deputy Commissioner Baten said that the safety of visitors was of utmost priority following the recent accident. “After reviewing the situation, we have decided to transfer the crocodile to the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Centre. Security and surveillance in the shrine area will also be strengthened,” he added.
Bagerhat East Sundarbans Divisional Forest Officer Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said a team of experts from Khulna would arrive on Wednesday to assess the crocodile’s behaviour and determine the safest method for capture and relocation, including technical considerations during the transfer.
The decision follows Monday night’s incident when the seven-year-old, Fatema Akter, was attacked while bathing in the shrine pond. Eyewitnesses reported that the crocodile grabbed her leg and dragged her underwater. Her body was recovered early Tuesday morning from the women’s bathing ghat area of the pond.
The incident sparked widespread concern among local residents, devotees, and visitors, who had demanded immediate action to remove the crocodile and strengthen safety measures at the shrine. Considering the public’s fear and safety risks, the district administration acted swiftly to relocate the animal.
