KHULNA, June 3: The crocodile, rescued from the pond adjacent to the historic Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (RA) shrine in Bagerhat, were shifted to the Khulna Wild Life Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre on Wednesday noon.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Khulna Wild Life Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre Nirmol Kumar Paul said that the crocodile were shifted to the Khulna Rehabilitation Centre around 1:15 pm for observation.
A joint team of the Department of Forest, Wild Life Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Centre, rescued the crocodile with the help of Bagerhat District administration, and sent it to Khulna around 12:15 pm.
"The government would decide about the crocodile where it will be keeping after 4 to 7 day close monitoring in Khulna Rehabilitation Centre," he added.
Conservator of Forest in Khulna Imran Khan and officials of Forest Department, Bagerhat District Administration were present.
DFO of West Division Sundarban Rezaul karim Chowdhury, said, a special rescued team along with forest officials, employees and local administration, rescued the crocodile in the morning and have sent it to Khulna Wild Life Rescue Centre.
"The team will observe the behaviour and location of the crocodile and determine the capture strategy, transfer time and necessary technical issues," he added.
Earlier, The Bagerhat District administration has decided to shift the crocodile to the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Centre in the Sundarban.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting held on Tuesday night to ensure the safety of local and foreign visitors and devotees visiting the shrine.
The meeting held in the Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner (DC)'s conference room at 10pm on Tuesday was presided over by DC Golam Mohammad Baten.
After the meeting, DC Golam Mohammad Baten said that the shrine area visitors' safety has been considered with utmost importance after the recent tragic incident.
After reviewing the situation, it has been decided to transfer the crocodile from the pond to the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Centre. At the same time, initiatives have been taken to strengthen security measures and increase surveillance in the shrine area.
It is worth noting that 8-year-old Fatema Akhter was attacked by a crocodile while taking a bath in the pond at around 8 pm on Monday.
According to eyewitnesses, the crocodile grabbed the child's leg and dragged her under the water.
Later, her body was recovered from the women's ghat area of the pond early Tuesday.
After this incident, concerns spread among local residents, visitors and devotees.
