More than fifty cats were rescued from a shelter home in the Signboard area of Narayanganj by Animal Rights BD. The rescue took place on Saturday afternoon near the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway.
Sifat Ullah, a member of Animal Rights BD, said that a man named Shahriar Bidyut had been collecting donations for years under the pretext of running a shelter for cats. He reportedly posted photos of sick and neglected cats on social media to raise funds.
In reality, the animals were kept without food in an unhygienic and foul-smelling environment. According to Sifat Ullah, Shahriar demanded daily expenses per cat from the organisation as well, and charged individuals between Tk 50 and Tk 100 when they handed over cats for care. However, instead of looking after them, he allegedly used the collected money for personal purposes.
Responding to the allegations, Shahriar said he worked alone and stayed with the cats, eating and sleeping in the same room. He claimed that because he had no assistance, he was unable to maintain cleanliness.
Members of the organisation said Shahriar showed signs of mental instability through his speech and behaviour. They added that the place was not suitable for keeping animals, which prompted the rescue. They noted that if he can create an appropriate environment in the future, he may be allowed to care for animals again.
The rescued cats have been placed under the organisation’s supervision and are receiving initial treatment and safe shelter.
