Prison guard shoots bird with air gun in Barguna

Staff Correspondent::

It has been alleged that the prison guards of Barguna prison are hunting winter guest birds with air guns. On a foggy winter morning on Monday, they were openly hunting birds with air guns on Abdul Quader Road in Ward No. 6 of Barguna Municipality. This scene of bird hunting was witnessed by two journalists. Before they realized it, the two hunters, Md. Hafizur Rahman and Md. Rafiqul Islam, prison guards working at Barguna District Prison, quickly left the place on a motorcycle with air guns and a bag full of birds. Eyewitnesses said that these two prison guards regularly go out to hunt birds with air guns.

Earlier, Md. Rafiqul Islam’s name came into discussion for bird hunting. Once, when confronted by journalists, he publicly admitted his mistake and promised never to hunt birds again. Even then, his bird hunting did not stop.

Environmentalists say that according to Bangladesh’s Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, bird hunting is a criminal offense. There are provisions for punishment for breaking the law. However, the question arises, if the law is violated by those who are themselves the protectors of the law, will the justice be the same as that of ordinary people, or will the responsibility be lightened in the shadow of identity?

Regarding the incident, local environmental activist Mushfiq Arif said, “Just punishing them will not be enough. The two accused prison guards should be suspended and exemplary action should be taken. The punishment should be stricter for those who break the law while enforcing the law.”

Barguna District Jail Superintendent Md. Anwar Hossain told reporters that he was aware of the incident. He assured that legal action would be taken against the two accused prison guards.