DHAKA, Feb 22, 2022 (BSS) - The government has decided to file cases and take department action against those responsible for the deaths of 11 zebras at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park in Gazipur.

  The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has decided to file cases against the identified persons responsible for the deaths of zebras as per the report of the probe committee formed in January 2022 over the deaths of 11 zebra at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park in Sreepur, Gazipur. 

  At the same time, departmental cases will be filed against those concerned as part of administrative actions, a ministry press release said.

  The decision was taken at a report review meeting held at the ministry's meeting room here today with Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin in the chair. 

  Deputy Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Secretary Md Mostafa Kamal, Additional Secretary (Administration) of the ministry Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Additional Secretary (Climate Change) Md Mizanul Haque Chowdhury, Additional Secretary (Development) and Convener of the Probe Committee Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik, Additional Secretary (Environmental Pollution Control) Keya Khan and Deputy Secretary and Member Secretary of the committee Mohammad Abdul Wadud Chowdhury were present at the meeting.

  The report of the probe committee, submitted at the meeting, revealed that the zebras died of hazardous effects of nitrate associated with mixed bacterial infections.

  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 were: Additional Secretary of the ministry Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik (convener), deputy secretary Mohammad Abdul Wadud Chowdhury (member-secretary), professor and head of the Zoology Department 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 was asked to submit its report to the ministry within 10 working days by identifying the real cause behind the zebra deaths and with necessary recommendations to prevent recurrence of such incidents.