A court in Dhaka has sentenced a man to six months’ imprisonment for brutally killing a neighbour’s pet cat in the capital’s Mohammadpur area, a case that has drawn public attention to the issue of animal cruelty in Bangladesh. The court also imposed a fine of Tk 10,000, with an additional one month of imprisonment if the fine is not paid.
The verdict was delivered on Wednesday (11 March) by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Albiruni Mir. The accused, Akbar Hossain Shiblu, was not present in court when the judgment was announced. As a result, the court issued both a conviction warrant and an arrest warrant against him.
According to the complainant’s lawyer, Zakir Hossain, the court reached its decision after examining witness testimonies and reviewing CCTV footage presented as evidence. The footage reportedly confirmed that the accused intentionally assaulted the animal with extreme cruelty, ultimately causing its death. The punishment was handed down under provisions related to criminal conduct and laws concerning animal welfare.
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Incident and Evidence
Court documents reveal that the incident took place on 1 February 2024 at Muktijoddha Tower in Mohammadpur. The pet cat belonged to a resident named Monsur and had gone missing from the ninth floor of the building that afternoon.
Later, CCTV footage from the building showed neighbour Akbar Hossain Shiblu kicking the cat violently “like a football”. The impact knocked the animal to the ground, leaving it motionless. The footage further showed the accused pressing his foot on the animal, ensuring its death.
The disturbing act was reportedly witnessed by another resident of the building, who subsequently informed others about the incident. The building’s CCTV recordings were later collected and submitted to the court as key evidence in the case.
Legal Proceedings
Following the incident, Nafisa Nowreen Chowdhury, representing the animal welfare organisation People for Animal Welfare, filed a petition with the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court on 5 February 2024. The court recorded the complainant’s statement and instructed Mohammadpur Police Station to investigate the matter.
After completing the investigation, the police submitted a report confirming that the allegations against Akbar Hossain Shiblu were substantiated by evidence. The court formally framed charges against the accused on 14 July 2024, marking the beginning of the trial.
Testimony from four witnesses was recorded during the proceedings, and the evidentiary phase concluded on 2 December 2024. Final arguments were presented in early February 2025, leading to the court’s verdict in March.
Key Timeline of the Case
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 February 2024 | Pet cat killed in Mohammadpur |
| 5 February 2024 | Case filed and investigation ordered |
| 14 July 2024 | Charges formally framed against the accused |
| 2 December 2024 | Witness testimony phase completed |
| 3 February 2025 | Final arguments presented in court |
| 11 March 2025 | Court delivers verdict |
Significance of the Verdict
Legal experts believe the judgment sends a strong message against animal cruelty in Bangladesh. Although animal welfare laws exist in the country, enforcement has often been criticised as inconsistent.
Animal rights advocates say the ruling could help raise awareness about humane treatment of animals and encourage stricter accountability in similar cases. They argue that exemplary punishments in such incidents play an important role in discouraging violence against animals and fostering greater compassion within society.
Activists also emphasise that stronger enforcement of existing animal welfare legislation, combined with public awareness initiatives, could help prevent similar incidents in the future.