Bangladesh Cabinet clears draft ‘Animal Welfare Law’ with jail term, fine for animal cruelty

The Cabinet has cleared on principle the draft of 'Animal Welfare Law' with provisions of jail term and fines for animal cruelty.

After Monday's regular meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the old law on animal welfare has been updated in the draft.

The new law, once passed in Parliament, will stipulate a jail term of six months or a fine of Tk 10,000 or both for anyone convicted of animal cruelty.

For maiming or poisoning animals, the penalty is two years in prison or maximum Tk 50,000 fine or both.

According to the proposed law, vertebrates will be considered as animals while those raised to serve human will be domestic animals.

"Physical, chemical, or environmental torture causes physical or mental pain to animals. The draft law is discouraging these activities. Torturing animals will be considered as an offence," Shafiul said.

He said the offences, considered under the proposed law, range from causing pain to any animal unnecessarily, behaving cruelly, forcing additional work, beating for no reason or any other form of cruelty towards the animal.

The authorities will be able to initiate cases against persons violating the law.

Mobile courts will also be able to try the offenders.

The Cabinet secretary said authorised organisations like city corporations would be out of the law's purview in the case of culling or sterilising of animals such as dogs.