DT e-Paper 27 February 2017

Opinion 13
Protecting our animal friends
Animal welfare in Bangladesh is no longer a pipe dream
DT
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2017
Can we be kinder to our furry friends with this new law?
I have seen how uncaring we are, not only when it comes to our pets, but
animals in general. Children often hurl stones at stray dogs and cats, and
we never discourage such behaviour
• Nadeem Qadir
There was a time when
animal lovers would
demand punishment
for those who commit
cruelty towards animals, and we
would say how it was a pipe dream
because we needed to enforce laws
to protect people first.
But Bangladesh is changing and
so are many of its indicators.
From GDP to FDI, we’ve
received recognition in the world
comity as a country that matters.
A country that has, in the past
several years, become a role model
in many sectors, even compared to
our big neighbour India.
Nowadays I often find people in
the West talking positively about
Bangladesh. Now that we have
reached a point of relative political
stability, normal for a democratic
country, and we’re well on our
way to making good on our Visions
2021 and 2041, we can deal with
laws like the Animal Welfare Act.
The cabinet recently approved
the law, much to the relief of
animal lovers. Needless to
say, I want its full and prompt
enforcement.
The law is to protect animals,
including pets and domesticated
animals. The draft proposes
maximum punishment of two
years in jail and a Tk50,000
fine for any person who kills an
animal protected under the law. It
also proposes a maximum of six
months’ jail term and a Tk10,000
fine for those accused of cruelty
towards animals or using them for
excessive toil.
I have seen how uncaring we
are, not only when it comes to
our pets, but animals in general.
Children often hurl stones at
stray dogs and cats, and we never
discourage such behaviour.
We forget that they are smarter
BIGSTOCK
than humans in many ways, and
have the capacity to feel love,
anger, and more, just like us.
I say from my experience. I
grew up with pets farm animals,
after all. There were parrots,
smaller birds, dogs, rabbits, even
guinea pigs which we had to give
away because of their proclivity
towards excessive reproduction.
My father had two four-legged
“daughters” -- Rusty and Paxy
-- one for indoors and other to
guard the house. Rusty went mad
crying for him after he was killed
in 1971. He had to be put down,
unfortunately. Paxy remained for
many years, protecting us in our
house. She left behind Champagne
and her two siblings, who we gave
away to friends.
Champagne died after she
was stabbed while protecting our
empty house when my mother
was in the hospital. The day she
died, we saw she was in tears and
as if speaking to her children. We
buried her in our garden. To our
utter surprise, the two puppies
she left behind immediately took
charge of guarding the house.
Paxy was killed when a couple
of miscreants gravely injured
her while protecting the garden
flowers before one year’s Ekushey
February celebrations. Why did
she do this at the cost of her life?
It was her honesty, commitment
to her master or father, and
above all, the great love we fail to
understand.
I have a “son” called Chase.
People laugh when I say he is my
son, but he understands that I
am his papa. He becomes sad and
clings to me when I prepare to go
to work or pack my luggage. His
face says he is sad, that is, if you
care to understand that. When
I return home, he first rubs his
cold nose against mine and then
gets on my lap. After hugging
and playing for a while, my son is
happy.
He makes gestures and sounds,
and I understand what he is asking
for. So we communicate in our
special papa-son way. The love I
get from him is unconditional and
the truest in the world.
As the country moves towards
prosperity, we need to take care
of our ignored fellow denizens
like dogs and cats. We must
see to those who do businesses
by keeping animals caged in
inhumane conditions.
Chase came to me from
Katabon, packed inside a small
cage with his siblings. I do not
know where they are. I hope they
are also treated the way I treat my
son. I love you Chase. You are my
heart. You are my special little guy.
The media and all who love
animals must make use of the law
to stop cruelty against animals.
No, not animals. Special, loved
members of our families. •
Nadeem Qadir is the Press Minister
of Bangladesh High Commission in
London.