The Magura sadar upazila administration has allocated food for stray animals who are going hungry because of the ongoing countrywide shutdown to tackle the outbreak of coronavirus.
District Administration and Municipality have arranged the regular food for the unidentified dogs and cats of Magura municipality. On the basis of voluntary labor, an organization named ‘Torun Decorators’ has taken over the responsibility of cooking this food for the dogs and cats.
Magura Deputy Commissioner, Municipal Mayor and Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) inaugurated the programme on Sunday morning. Tarun Bhowmik, the owner of the Decorator, was present at the time also.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abu Sufiyan said that some 10 kgs of rice and four kgs of chicken will be allocated for the animals. They will be fed twice a day.
A volunteer group named ‘Tarun Decorator’ was tasked with cooking and providing food to the animals at four points of the district town. The stray animals are facing starvation due to the closure of different restaurants and other institutions.
“As a result, the animals have become more ferocious. The local administration has taken the decision to provide food on humanitarian grounds,” said the UNO.
Magura Deputy Commissioner Ashraful Alam said, "Wastage of food at hotels, restaurants and house holders are the main source of food for various animals including dog and cats. But food stores, including most hotels in the town, are closed due to corona virus. Even in the fears of a food crisis, homesteads are being fed in moderation.
That is why the stray animals, including dogs, cats have become victims food crisis. For this reason, chicken and 15 to 20 kg rice will be cooked daily for the animals which are being kept in different containers at various points in the town. The menu of meals will be changed as needed". The Deputy Commissioner urged the residents of the town to take part in the program by reaching wastage of food to those containers at various points in the town.
Magura Municipality Mayor Khurshid Haider Tutul said, "According to our estimates, there are1000 to1200 unidentified dogs in the Magura municipal area. There are also a significant number of cats. This arrangement is in keeping with their food crisis. It will continue'.
Meanwhile, Tarun Bhowmik, owner of the Torun Decorator, said, "The initiative taken by the district and municipal administration is very effective for this time. We are happy to be involved in it. Because of the corona situation, dogs and cats are really in trouble. If exposed, any changes in their normal behavior can occur. Everyone needs to keep an eye on this".