A Dhaka court has sentenced three men to two and a half years in prison each for killing 20 dogs in the Lichu Bagan area of Dhaka’s Dhalpur in 2021. The verdict was delivered on Sunday by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Zakir Hossain. The convicted individuals are Md. Abul Khayer, Md. Apu, and Md. Manik. Manik was present in court and sent to jail after the verdict, while arrest warrants were issued for the two absconding convicts.

According to court officials, each convict received two years of imprisonment and a fine of Tk 1,000 under Section 16(b), with an additional 15 days if unpaid. They were also sentenced to six months under Section 16(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2019, along with another Tk 1,000 fine and 15 days in default. Both sentences will run concurrently, resulting in two years of imprisonment.

The case was filed on January 25, 2021, by Maruful Haque of Animal Lovers of Bangladesh after the accused were identified from video footage. The investigation concluded in September 2021, and the trial began in May 2024, leading to Sunday’s judgment.