A dog has allegedly been tied with a rope and drowned in water in Chattogram's Sandwip upazila.
It could not be confirmed exactly when the incident occurred. However, the matter came to public attention after a video of the incident went viral on social media yesterday (2 July).
The video sparked anger and concern among animal lovers and people from all walks of life, with many demanding that those involved be promptly identified and brought to justice.
The footage shows a dog tied with a rope and held underwater.
Although the animal desperately struggled to survive, it was allegedly kept submerged for a prolonged period.
Sandwip Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sujan Halder told The Business Standard, "We are analysing the viral video and trying to identify the accused.
"Police launched an operation yesterday to arrest him. We hope the accused will be identified and brought under the law very soon."
In the footage, several people nearby are heard asking the accused person to release the dog, but their requests are ignored.
It was alleged that the dog was pulled out of the water only after its death had been confirmed.
Local journalist Ali Hossain told TBS that the incident occurred in Santoshpur union of Sandwip upazila.
He said members of the public repeatedly urged the accused to save the dog, but the person ignored them and continued to keep the animal underwater.
The incident was later reported to the upazila administration and police, he added.
Expressing concern over the incident, Mahfuz Russell, founder of the Pitachhara Forest and Wildlife Conservation Initiative, said, "Such an incident is not only an example of cruelty towards animals but also a clear violation of the law."
He demanded a prompt investigation based on the viral video, identification of those responsible and exemplary punishment.
Under Bangladesh's Animal Welfare Act, 2019, causing unnecessary suffering to animals, torturing them or treating them cruelly is a punishable offence.
The law provides for fines, imprisonment or both for such offences.
Sandwip / Chattogram / video
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