Animals belong to the wild. Forest, rivers and grasslands are not only their home but their rhythm, their way of existing. They are important for their aesthetic, economic, scientific, and survival value. Legally they are regarded as property as well. When they are removed from this world and taken to cages, the ecological balance of nature is disrupted. Recently, in Mirpur dozens of wild birds and turtles were rescued from illegal possession inside a local market.This is not an isolated incident. Over recent years, authorities have rescued wild animals from this market multiple times. The real question is not how many animals were rescued but whythis illegal trade continues to thrive in Mirpur?Why is this continuing despite repeated raids?
In Mirpur1, there is a particular kind of scene that repeats itself every week. In Mirpur Pet Market every Friday people from different parts of the country gather to buy and sell animals. From pigeons and parrots to rabbits and other small animals, these are not unusual in the Bangladeshi context. These animals are commonly kept as pets in households. Behind this normal scenario, there are also cases where wild and native animals are traded here regularly.Whereas article 18(A) of the Constitution of Bangladesh deals with the protection and improvement of the environment and biodiversity. It provides a constitutional basis for protecting animals as part of environmental conservation and biodiversity preservation.The illegality of what is happening in Mirpur is not a matter of dispute. Bangladesh also has an international legal obligation. Export and import of all wild animals, their parts and products are prohibited, and Bangladesh has been a signatory of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) since 1981.
Different types of animals are involved in this trade. There have been reports of freshwater turtles, civets, monitor lizards, hornbills, northern slow loris and langurs being seized from this illegal market. Recognizing this concern, Section 4 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1920 provides penalties for cruelty to animals including the sale of animals killed with unnecessary suffering. These animals are not naturally suited for confinement, yet they continue to be part of the illegal trade indicating a deeper supply chain.
One explanation can be attributed to how enforcement works. When officials get specific information, they raid the area and temporarily disrupt illegal activity.However, the raids often target only the visible end of the trade. The hunters who capture wildlife, the transporters who move them across the country, and the buyers who create demand frequently remain beyond the reach ofenforcement. As a result, the illegal market quickly recovers.This doesn’t solve the problem permanently. Each raid interrupts the trade for some time, the broader system remains the same. This raises a serious concern: if the problem is already known then why is it not being stopped permanently?
Another factor is a wider supply system that exists beyond the city itself. These animals do not simply come to this market; they go through multiple layers such as capture from natural habitats, informal transportation routes and people who move them before they reach sellers.Their trade is a criminal act;it is clearly stated under the Wildlife Conservation and Security Ordinance 2025. Illegal activities such as hunting, trading or dealing with wildlife or their products without proper permission, and possession of wildlife without authorisation are subject to different levels of punishment under the law.
Under Section 428 of the Penal Code, killing or causing injury to an animal valued at Tk10 or more can result in imprisonment of up to two years, a fine or both.Bangladesh's primary law on this issue is the Animal Welfare Act, 2019. An impressive aspect of the Act is that it refers to the standards of the World Organisation of Animal Health (OIE) for identifying humane ways to put a diseased animal to rest.This Act declares that intentional killing or torture of an animal is considered a punishable offence. The punishment can include imprisonment for up to six months, a financial penalty of up to Tk10,000 or both. This law applies to all animals, including domestic pets, stray animals and animals living in public areas.
Although laws exist, animal cruelty remains a less disscused issue. The difference between theory and practice remains a major challenge for the protection of animal rights in Bangladesh.Demand also plays an essential role in this system. As long as buyers are willing to pay for rare birds and other exotic animals, these sellers will continue to find paths to bring them into markets. The trade remains intact not only because animals are supplied, but also because there is a market ready to buy them.
Collectively, the situation shows a gap between repeated raids and continued presence of illegal trade in the market. The whole scenario shows that the problem is not limited to individual cases but something deeper that continues to exist over time. To understand the reason behind this, it is important to look at how the law is applied in reality and where enforcement is not fully functional.
Md Fahim Farhad, Student, Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Jahangirnagar University and Farzana Ahmed Sadia, Student, Department of Law, Bangladesh University
