Patuakhali: At least three buffaloes died and 25 fell seriously ill after allegedly eating grass laced with poison at a char in Bauphal upazila of Patuakhali. The incident occurred at Lal Char in Keshabpur union on Friday afternoon.
According to United News of Bangladesh, buffalo herders, owners, and local people have been raising buffaloes in the open at Lal Char for years, with the animals naturally growing healthy by grazing on the green grass of the char. On Friday, herders took more than 100 buffaloes to Lal Char for grazing. After eating the grass, around 25 to 30 buffaloes fell ill. One buffalo each belonging to Rafiz Mridha, Suman Majhi, and Ruhul Amin died, while several others are in critical condition.
Herders and veterinary practitioners initially suspect that the grass on the char had been poisoned, causing the buffaloes to fall ill. Mostafa Fakir, a buffalo owner from Ray Saheb's area in Chandradwip, mentioned he had been raising buffaloes at Lal Char for around 15 years and that hundreds of buffaloes regularly graze there without such incidents occurring before. Fakir expressed concerns that miscreants might have poisoned the grass out of enmity, leading to the buffaloes' illnesses. He reported that 18 of his buffaloes are in critical condition.
Another buffalo owner, Ruhul Amin, confirmed that one of his buffaloes died after eating the poisoned grass, while the others are undergoing treatment. Upazila Sub-Assistant Livestock Officer Mohammad Shahidul Islam stated that several buffaloes had died before they could reach the spot after receiving the news and that the sick buffaloes were being treated.
Islam further explained that the initial suspicion is food poisoning, and samples from the dead buffaloes will be collected and sent to a laboratory for confirmation. The details will be known after receiving the test report. Bauphal Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Sirajul Islam said police were sent to the spot after receiving the news and that legal action will be taken following an investigation if a written complaint is filed.