Kulaura (Moulvibazar) Correspondent

The Forest Department detained two youths, Asabuddin (20) and Warich Ali (17), who hunted 11 'Dahuk: birds by listening to calls on mobile phones in Kulaura, Moulvibazar.

The local Forest Department arrested two youths from the Fanai river area of Karmadha union of the upazila on Saturday morning on Saturday.

Later in the afternoon, a mobile court was conducted at the Naldari Bit office of the Forest Department by the Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Mehdi Hasan.

The rescued birds were later released and the two youths were fined and released on bond in the custody of a local UP member.

According to mobile court and local sources, Md Nur, a resident of Digalkandi village of Kormodha union of the upazila on Saturday morning.

Mia's son Md. Asabuddin (20) and Md. Warich Ali (17), son of Md. Tahir Ali, a resident of the same area, went down to the local Fanai River to hunt Dahuk birds. At this time, a separate pet Dahuk bird was kept in a cage on one side of the river and a mobile phone with a recorded call of the Dahuk bird was placed next to the cage. Hearing the call on the mobile, 10 Dahuk birds came to their trap one by one and caught them.

At that time, Md. Abdul Mannan, Naldari Beat Officer of the Forest Department, arrested two young men, Asabuddin and Warich. Later he immediately informed Range Officer of Forest Department Md. Riaz Uddin who then informed Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mehdi Hasan. Later in the afternoon, a mobile court was conducted at the Bit Office and the Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Mehdi Hasan Asabuddin was fined Tk 20,000 and Warich Ali was fined on account of age.

The two were released on bond in the guaranty of local UP member Md. Abdul Matin without paying fine. The 11 dahuk birds that were hunted were later released into the Fanai River. Md. Riaz Uddin, Range Officer of Forest Department and ASI of Kulaura Police Station Md. Abu Taher were present in the mobile court.

Earlier, on December 26 last year, the mobile court sentenced Diloar Mia (22), son of Rakib Ali of Pattai village, to one month imprisonment and a fine of five thousand rupees for the crime of hunting 4 captured Shaliks and 14 Amari birds in Karmadha union illegally.

Two young bird hunters Asabuddin and Warich said, "We did not know that bird hunting is a punishable crime.

Inspired by Youtube, they hunted Dahuk birds , I downloaded the call of Dahuk bird and kept it on mobile. When they play that record near the reservoir, the birds come closer to the people. Then they hunt birds with nets to get traps with different devices. They said that they hunted 11 birds for the first time in their life. I will never do this kind of work in the future.

Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Md. Mehedi Hasan said that two young bird hunters committed their crime. Later, 11 birds were released with the help of forest department. Later, Asabuddin was fined Tk 20,000 under the Wildlife Act and Warich Ali was released on bond in the custody of a local UP member and both of them were warned for future.

Apart from Bangladesh, India, Dahuk birds are found in various countries of South and Southeast Asia. It is gradually disappearing from nature due to cruelty of merciless hunters and lack of habitat.

The IUCN has declared the Dahuk as least threatened. This bird is protected under the Wildlife Act of Bangladesh.