The death of a dog in a crocodile attack at a pond beside the shrine of Khan Jahan Ali Shrine, Bagerhat, has triggered widespread outrage, with several showbiz stars condemning the inaction of onlookers who chose to film the incident rather than intervene.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, April 8, afternoon at the southern ghat of the shrine. According to eyewitnesses, an allegedly sick dog had bitten a child and several others in the area. As locals attempted to drive it away, the animal ran towards the ghat.
During the commotion, a security guard was scratched by the dog, prompting him to make sudden movements, which caused the dog to fall into the pond. Within moments, the crocodile living in the shrine’s pond seized the animal and dragged it underwater.
Videos of the incident quickly circulated on social media, drawing sharp criticism over the apparent lack of compassion shown by those present.
Jaya Ahsan wrote on Facebook: ““He did not realise he would have to die so brutally just for someone to make content and mock him. Poor dog.”
Deepa Khandakar reacted with a brief but strong message: “Horrible.”
Zakia Bari Mamo wrote: “The only truly shameless and unscrupulous creature in the animal kingdom can be human. The dog’s trust in people has been broken. Yet the opposite is also true. We are surrounded by decay because we fail to respect those who deserve it. Learn to value people with humanity, without misunderstanding them and stop directing hatred towards animals.”
Mishti Jannat wrote: “A person’s true identity lies not in power or wealth, but in kindness, compassion and the ability to understand the suffering of others. A little love and compassion can make the world beautiful. Let us strive to be humane rather than merely human.”
Actor Irfan Sajjad wrote: “There are more inhumane people than humane ones in this country. The country is not bad; the people are. That is why the country is not moving forward.”
Singer Tanjeeb Sarwar wrote: “I was watching until the very last moment, thinking someone would save him. It is not the crocodile’s fault, but is this human behaviour truly humanity?”
Niloy Alamgir called for immediate action over the incident, while producer Aung Rakhine questioned, “Will this nation survive for the next 100 years?”
The incident has renewed discussion around animal welfare laws in Bangladesh. Existing legislation, including the Cruelty to Animals Act 1920, the Bangladesh Wildlife Conservation and Security Act 2012 and the Animal Welfare Act 2019, criminalises cruelty towards animals.
However, activists and experts have long argued that enforcement remains weak and that stronger, updated protections are needed.
