1,451 wild birds rescued

The forest department with the help of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab-7) in separate drives rescued 1451 wild birds from different areas of Feni Sadar upazila early yesterday.

The law enforcers also arrested three traders-- Ruhul Amin, 32, Roni Talukdar, 30, and Atiar Rahman, 45,-- during the drives. They hail from different areas in Bagerhat, Madaripur and Jessore districts.

Being tipped off, a team of Rab-7 in Feni, in association with the forest department officials raided Mohipal Circuit House area on Dhaka-Chittagong highway around 3:00am and rescued the birds, said Squadron Leader Shafayet Jamil of Rab-7.

The rescued birds include 24 parrots, 1050 rose-ringed parakeets, 302 endangered munias and 75 starlings.

Later, the forest department freed the birds.

Ashim Mallick, wildlife inspector of the forest department, filed a case against the arrestees with Sadar Model Police Station yesterday.

According to the Bangladesh Wildlife (Protection and Safety) Act 2012, trapping, selling, buying, consuming or caging wild birds is a punishable offence.