RANGPUR, March 29, 2019 (BSS) – Forty parrots regained freedom in the air of Panchagarh when released this noon after seizing them from a passenger bus while trafficking to other areas by unidentified bird traffickers.
Deputy Commissioner of Panchagarh Sabina Yasmin released the parrots on her office premises in presence of government officials, socio-cultural and environmental activists, civil society members and local elite.
Talking to BSS, Panchagarh Sadar Beat Officer of the Department of Forests (DoF) Md. Anwarul Islam said the parrots were seized from a Sirajganj-bound passenger bus from Banglabandha in Tentulia upazila at Chowrangi Crossing of Panchagarh town this morning.
“On a tip off, a special team of the DoF challenged the passenger bus at Chowrangi Crossing of Panchagarh district town and seized the parrots packed in a three-tier cage,” he said.
He said the green-coloured seized parrots were of native species and they generally live in forests of the localities of the sub-Himalayan Panchagarh and other adjoining districts.
“During primary investigation, we found that one Abdul Jabbar of village Hulashujyote in Tentulia upazila of Panchagarh caught the parrots using special traps and sold to one presumed bird trafficker Majibul Haque of Natore district,” Islam said.
The cage with the parrots was loaded on rooftop of the passenger bus by someone at Tentulia upazila town of Panchagarh possibly for trafficking to the capital Dhaka city, he apprehended.
“However, we could not arrest anybody in this connection during the raid. We handed over the seized parrots immediately to the Panchagarh Deputy Commissioner,” Islam said.
The Deputy Commissioner opened the cage doors when all of the parrots came out one by one with screaming creating an emotional feeling among all people present there and bringing spontaneous smile in their faces.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) of Panchagarh Mohammad Golam Azam, Panchagarh Sadar Beat Officer of the DoF Anwarul Islam and Press Club President Shafiqul Alam were present on the occasion.
Talking to BSS at 5.15 pm, Panchagarh Deputy Commissioner Sabina Yasmin said, “Hunting, catching and killing of wild birds are strictly prohibited and punishable offence as per the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012.”
“The wild birds, beasts and animals are beautiful in forests. We immediately released the seized parrots when they flew back soon to the nearby forests to lead their normal life,” Sabina added.