4 endangered capped langurs rescued, wildlife smuggler arrested in Mirpur

The Wildlife Crime Control Unit (WCCI) of the Forest Department rescued four endangered capped langurs in Dhaka’s Mirpur area on Friday evening (October 25) while they were being taken in a car to Chuadanga with the intention of smuggling them into India.

WCCI along with officers from Shah Ali Police Station also arrested a wildlife smuggler during the raid.

The operation took place near the Mukta Bangla shopping complex under Shah Ali police station after receiving information about illegal transportation of wild animals.

Abdullah As Sadiq, an inspector at WCCI, confirmed the rescue to The Business Standard and said the animals were found in poor conditions, stuffed into two plastic bags and an iron cage in the back of a car.

“Of the four, the langur cubs were found dead,” he added.

“The driver, identified as Nazrul, 35, did not provide documents for the animals, saying they were obtained from a man named Hadith Rahman alias Nirab, 32,” Sadiq said.

Sadiq added, “Nazrul admitted that he was transporting the animals to an unknown person in the Chuadanga area and mentioned that smugglers often collect wild animals from the Alikadam area of ​​Bandarban for illegal transportation to India.”

Nazrul is currently in custody at the Shah Ali police station, where a case has been registered. Authorities are working to apprehend Hadith Rahman, a repeat offender who has several cases of wildlife trafficking against him, he said.

According to the Bangladesh Wildlife (Conservation and Protection) Act 2012, the capped langur is a protected species.

The forest department has vowed to step up its efforts to combat wildlife smuggling and urged the public to report any suspicious activity involving protected animals.