Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) illegally removed some nine street dogs from the University of Dhaka campus on March 9, 2026. Some of the relocated dogs were residents of Isha Khan Road Teacher’s Quarters near Fuller Road, while the rest lived on the adjacent roads at the university.
According to security guards and residents of the quarters, a DSCC van came to the area around 10:00am on that day, sedated the dogs, and took them away. The matter was confirmed to The Daily Star by the Co-Ordinator of the Animal Welfare Team of Dhaka University (AWTDU), Rafiul Haque Tanvir.
“I got a call from another team member around Monday (March 9) noon that some of the dogs have been removed. After I went to the spot, quite a few dogs from both inside the quarter and the adjacent roads were missing. I then spoke to the guards and residents to learn more,” he told The Daily Star.
The dogs were removed following a written application by Dr Md Nurnabi, a professor at the Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the university, who also presides over the executive committee of the residents’ association of the Isha Khan Road Teacher’s Quarters.
“When we called Nurnabi sir, he admitted to applying for the dogs’ removal with the city corporation. We then went to Nagar Bhaban on March 10 to speak to the chief veterinary officer of the DSCC,” Tanvir said.
Dr Nurnabi was contacted by this correspondent about the relocation. He said, “Around 140 families live in the Isha Khan Road Teachers’ Quarters, and about 15 street dogs are in the area. Residents have repeatedly complained that the dogs attack people, especially during the early hours around Fajr. Children have also been chased and attacked.”
“Following a meeting of the Isha Khan Road Residential Welfare Association about six months ago, we decided to write to DSCC requesting that the dogs be removed,” he added.
Dr. Nurnabi said he was not aware that the dogs were vaccinated. “Some people are claiming the dogs were vaccinated, but there were no collars on them. Without any identification marks, how can we know they were actually vaccinated?” he asked.
The Veterinary Officer of Dhaka South (Region 1, 7), Dr Sharan Kumar Saha, confirmed to the AWTDU team that the dogs were picked up following an application, and later taken to a deserted area of Keraniganj.
“After learning that the dogs may have been relocated to Jhilmil Residential Area of South Keraniganj, an approximately 100-acre site where construction has yet to begin, a few of our team members went there to check,” Tanvir said.
“We spoke to the DSCC van drivers who were involved with the relocation before going and checked the areas. But unfortunately, we could not find any of the dogs there. It could be that some dogs regained consciousness and wandered off, but we cannot say for sure,” he added.
According to eyewitnesses at the South Keraniganj site, the city corporation authority often brings unconscious street dogs to the area, even though it is illegal to kill or remove street animals under Section 7 of the Animal Welfare Act, 2019.
However, that does not seem to deter DSCC from repeatedly trying to relocate community street dogs from areas they have spent their entire lives in. Earlier in 2020, DSCC began to relocate street dogs from the areas under its jurisdiction, which was met with strong protests from animal welfare activists.
Among the dogs who have been relocated is Brit — a 10-year-old mutt — who has been taken care of by the residents at Teachers Quarters next to Fuller Road for about a decade.
“Brit is both vaccinated and sterilised. He’s a very friendly aging dog. There is absolutely no reason for him to be relocated,” said Tanvir.
Another dog who was a victim of the relocation drive is Pluto, a three-year-old mixed breed, who was also vaccinated and friendly. The other dogs were also taken care of by those living in the area.
The AWTDU members went to speak to the Proctor of the University of Dhaka, Saifuddin Ahmed, on March 11. The proctor said such a sudden relocation without consulting the university authority is unacceptable. He reassured the AWTDU team that a three-member committee is going to be formed to investigate the incident.
Earlier, from January 31 to February 1, the AWTDU launched a vaccination drive and an awareness programme for the street dogs and cats living in the area in collaboration with Furry Friends Foundation. Some 175 street dogs and cats living in the campus area were vaccinated during the drive, which included the relocated dogs.
In connection to the incident, Obhoyaronno and People for Animal Welfare (PAW) Foundation—both animal welfare organisations—will hold a protest tomorrow (March 13) at 11:00am in front of the National Press Club, demanding an end to the illegal culling and removal of dogs by Dhaka city corporations and some housing committees.