Eight puppies killed in Pabna: Nishi Rahman arrested

Accused Nishi Rahman has been arrested after a case was filed in Ishwardi, Pabna, in which eight puppies were thrown into a pond without the mother dog's knowledge. Nishi Rahman is the wife of Ishwardi's Small Farmers Foundation officer Hasanur Rahman Nayan.

Responding to the complaint and media questions, Nishi Rahman told reporters on Tuesday, "The puppies used to live near the stairs of our house and were very disturbing. So I put them in a bag in the market and left them at the base of a sajina tree near the pond. I don't know how they fell into the pond. I myself did not throw the puppies into the pond."

When the incident came to light, Ishwardi Upazila Livestock Officer Aklima Khatun filed a case with Ishwardi Police Station at around 11:30 pm. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the police station ASM Abdun Noor confirmed the matter.

Incidentally, a dog named Tom had been living in a corner of the Ishwardi Upazila Nirbahi Officer's residence for a long time. A week ago, she gave birth to eight puppies. The puppies went missing on Monday morning. Upazila Parishad officials learned that Nishi Rahman and her husband Nayan had tied eight puppies in a sack and thrown them into the pond sometime on Sunday night.

The dead puppies were found the next day, Monday morning, and buried near the UNO's residence in the afternoon. Jahangir Alam, the caretaker of the Upazila Executive Officer, said that before Nayan sir left on his motorcycle, his son said, "Mommy has put the puppies in a sack and thrown them into the pond." After the sack was lifted from the pond and opened, the eight puppies were found dead. Seeing the dead puppies, the mother dog Tom cried out loudly and fell ill, and was later treated by the Upazila Livestock Department officials.

The incident created a stir when it was reported in the news media across the country. Ishwardi Circle Additional Superintendent of Police Pranab Kumar said that after the case, Nishi Rahman was arrested from the fourth floor of a house next to Rahimpur Girls School in Ishwardi Municipality Sadar on Tuesday night at around 1:30 am. Preparations are underway to hand him over to the court after the legal process.

Upazila Livestock Officer Aklima Khatun said that due to the incident, Honorable Advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Farida Akhter called and said, "This incident is inhumane and has tarnished the image of the country. No concession will be given to those involved in killing animals." In addition, the Director General has also instructed to file a case.

Ishwardi Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Moniruzzaman said that Nayan was given a written order to leave the gazetted quarters on Monday in the case of killing the puppy. They vacated the house on Tuesday afternoon and moved elsewhere.