Two members of an alleged trafficking ring arrested.
42 rare animals have rescued following a raid at a warehouse near Sonali Bazar in the Eastern Housing area of Mirpur-12 in Dhaka on 9 June 2026. Photo: TBS
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42 rare animals have rescued following a raid at a warehouse near Sonali Bazar in the Eastern Housing area of Mirpur-12 in Dhaka on 9 June 2026. Photo: TBS
Authorities have rescued 55 rare native animals in what they describe as the largest single wildlife recovery operation in the country’s history, following coordinated raids in Chakaria and Dhaka days after The Business Standard report questioning the Chattogram Forest Department’s inaction on wildlife trafficking.
Following the 6 June report, headlined “Conservationists rescue rare langur, question Ctg Forest Dept’s inaction on wildlife trafficking,” the Chattogram Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division and the Wildlife Crime Control Unit swung into action, conducting separate operations over two days and arresting two members of an alleged trafficking syndicate.
Yesterday (8 June), the Chattogram Wildlife Management Division arrested Md Hadis Rahman in Cox’s Bazar’s Chakaria, recovering 13 hill yellow tortoises and a gibbon from his possession.
Acting on intelligence obtained from Hadis, the Wildlife Crime Control Unit then raided a warehouse near Sonali Bazar in the Eastern Housing area of Mirpur-12 in Dhaka, recovering a further 42 rare animals.
The animals rescued across both operations include three great hornbills, three spectacled langurs, 13 hill yellow tortoises, 12 parakeets, one myna, three slow lorises, one eagle owl, three Asian palm civets, and three porcupines.
A second suspect, Md Sajuddin, 24, was subsequently arrested in connection with the trafficking operation.
Confirming the information, Wildlife Inspector Asim Mallik, who led the operation, told TBS that initial questioning has suggested that Hadis’s wife, Khushi, is believed to have also been involved in coordinating and managing the syndicate’s activities online.
“Further investigation is underway,” added Inspector Mallik.
Mallik further said the rescued animals are being kept under the care of the forest department for primary treatment, and will be released into suitable natural habitats based on expert advice.
According to the Wildlife Crime Control Unit, hunting, collecting, transporting, and trafficking wildlife is completely prohibited under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2026, and legal action will be taken against those involved in such offences.
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