Zebra Deaths: Two Officials Withdrawn from Safari Park

The government has withdrawn two officials of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park with a view to conducting a fair probe into the deaths of zebras at the park located in Sreepur, Gazipur.

The officer-in-charge of the safari park, assistant forest conservator Tabibur Rahman, and veterinary officer Dr Hatem Sajjad Md Zulkarnain were withdrawn today and attached to the Forest Department, said a press release of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry.

Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, assistant conservator of forests, Faridpur; and Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman, veterinary surgeon, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, Dulahajra, Cox's Bazar; have been given new responsibilities in the Sreepur safari park.

A process continues to withdraw the project director of the safari park Md Zahidul Kabir, the release said.

On Jan 26, 2022, the ministry formed a five-member committee to probe the deaths of nine zebras at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park in Gazipur.

The committee members are: Additional Secretary of the ministry Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik (convener), deputy secretary Mohammad Abdul Wadud Chowdhury (member-secretary), Professor and head of the Department of Zoology at Jahangirnagar University Dr Mohammad Monirul Hasan Khan, Conservator of Forest Wildlife and Nature Conservation Circle, Dhaka, and former chief veterinary officer of Central Veterinary Hospital Dr ABM Shahidullah.

The probe body has been asked to submit its report to the ministry within 10 working days by identifying the real cause behind the deaths of the zebras and with necessary recommendations to prevent recurrence of such incidents.