The cabinet has consented to the draft of "Animal Welfare Act,” which pursues to stop cruelty towards animals and safeguard the responsibility for their well-being and security. The draft suggests a maximum of two-year imprisonment and a Tk50,000 fine for killing an animal and six-month jail and Tk10,000 fine for cruelty towards animals or using them for excessive toil. The approval was given at the regular cabinet meeting at the Secretariat, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. “The new Act has been legislated to shield vertebrate animals, including pets and domesticated animals, from human cruelty,” Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam told reporters after the meeting. Shafiul said that according to the draft law, showing unnecessary cruelty towards animals or beating them is considered a punishable offense, even if it is the owner who commits the offense. “The director general of the Department of Livestock Services, authorized officials under that department, or any police personnel holding the rank of a sub-inspector or above can file a case against any person who commits such offenses.” These days, pet breeding businesses, especially of dogs, are increasing, though many of them are not registered. With respect to this matter, he said that the commercial breeding and management of pets need to be animal-friendly and registered with the department concerned.
