The number of stay dogs is multiplying fast at Saint Martin Island. The tourists and the residents of the island are being regularly attacked by those stray dogs causing a huge panic among them. Many guardians of the island have stopped to send the children to school fearing the feral attack, it is learnt. Jasim Uddin Shuvo, Proprietor of Saint Martin Beach Eco Resort informed, in 9,000 square-kilometre areas of the island, there are around 8,000 stray dogs.
He said, the dogs were biting someone every day. Those hungry dogs were roaming beside the seashore and inside villages in search of food and all people including the tourists were being the target of attack of those dogs.
Specially, when tourists are walking or sunbathing on the beach at night or in the morning, the dogs are attacking them.
He further informed many parents have stopped sending their sons and daughters to schools fearing dogs attack.
Tourists and local people seek to get rid of the attack by those dogs.
Sarafat Mia and Sajeda Parvin came to St.Martin from Saturia of Manikganj. They said, after their arrival at the island, packs of stray dogs were following them.
Sajeda said she is afraid of the dogs. When those dogs followed them, she felt panicky but those went away when her husband drove them away with a stick.
Bazlur Rashid of Gabtoli of Bogura said that when his children were walking along the seashore with the packages of chips and foodstuffs in their hands, three to four dogs attacked them from behind and snatched the food and the chips. The children became extremely panicky after being attacked by those dogs.
He added, if the menace of stray dogs continued to grow in this tourist spot and no step was taken to eliminate those, the tourists would be reluctant to visit the island. Dr Abul Kashem, Teknaf Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer informed, the number of dogs is multiplying in St. Martin Island.
Mujibur Rahman, Chairman of St. Martin Union Parishad, nearly 10,000 people live on this island whereas the number of dogs on the island is more than 5,000. No action is being taken from any quarter to eliminate the dogs from the island.
During the last two years, dogs were administered birth control drugs and injections but the dogs are multiplying creating panic among the tourists and the local people.
Yeamin Hossain, Additional District Magistrate of Cox's Bazar informed, steps are being taken to control the birth of the dogs.