Man jailed for illegal bird hunting in Kurigram

A mobile court today sentenced a man to one year of rigorous imprisonment and fined him Tk 1,000 for illegally hunting birds with an airgun in Lalmonirhat's Nageshwari upazila.

"Jaynul Abedin, 36, son of Matiar Rahman and a resident of Andharijhar union in Bhurungamari upazila, was caught red-handed by locals while hunting birds with an airgun," said Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Badruzzaman Rishad.

"The government has adopted a strict stance on wildlife conservation, drives against illegal bird hunting and wildlife killing would continue," he added.

Police and local residents said suspicion arose when they noticed Jaynul hunting birds in the area. Locals detained him and, upon searching his bag, recovered eight dead birds. They later informed police, and officers from Nageshwari Police Station went to the scene and took him into custody.

Following the incident, the executive magistrate arrived at the spot and conducted an on-site mobile court. Jaynul was convicted under Section 6(1) of the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012, and sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Tk 1,000.

The airgun used in the offence was seized and taken into police custody. The hunted birds were later buried.