Two Slaughtered Deer and Nine Traps Seized in Patherghata Forest Department Raid

PNN News Desk, Barguna

In Patherghata Upazila of Barguna, a man was divorced by his wife after being arrested and sentenced for hunting wildlife. The incident has sparked widespread local discussion.

On Tuesday (March 3), Shahinur Begum (40) sent a divorce notice to her husband Md. Hanif (45). Earlier, on Monday night, Hanif was caught in a raid by the Forest Department with two slaughtered deer and several special traps.

According to the Forest Department, the operation was conducted late Monday night in Badurtola Khal area of Patherghata Sadar Union based on secret information. During the raid, a search was conducted on a motorized trawler, resulting in the recovery of two slaughtered deer and nine traps. Hanif was arrested at the scene. Though a resident of Hanritana village, he had been living for many years in Ward No. 7 of the municipal town.

On Tuesday morning, he was presented before the Patherghata Senior Judicial Magistrate Court, which sentenced him to one year of rigorous imprisonment and fined him 50,000 BDT. If the fine is not paid, an additional one month of imprisonment will be imposed. The seized deer hides and antlers were officially preserved, while the meat was destroyed and buried, the Forest Department confirmed.

After the sentencing, Shahinur Begum expressed her anger over her husband’s actions. She said her husband previously worked as a fisherman but recently became involved in illegal deer hunting. Despite repeated warnings from the family, he ignored them. She decided to divorce him considering social and moral responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Shahinur’s younger brother, Zahirul Islam, who works at the local Forest Department Beat Office, said he faced personal and professional embarrassment because a family member was involved in wildlife killing, leading to questions at his workplace.

Local concerned citizens emphasize that strict law enforcement along with social awareness is necessary to protect wildlife. Otherwise, preventing illegal hunting in coastal regions will be difficult.