BARGUNA, March 10, (V7N)– A critically endangered Madantak bird, wounded by a hunter’s bullet, sought shelter in a crop field in Tentulbaria village, Badarkhali Union. However, instead of receiving help, the bird was captured, slaughtered, and shared among villagers before environmental activists could intervene.

According to local sources, the incident took place on Monday near Tentulbaria High School Road. The bird, injured in the wing, was first spotted by children near the Tentulbaria River. When they informed local resident Abbas Mia, he, along with UP member Saiful Islam and Monir Khalifa, reportedly led the hunt and distributed the meat among villagers.

Upon hearing of the situation, environmental activists and the Forest Department rushed to the scene, but by the time they arrived, the bird had already been slaughtered. UP member Saiful Islam and others went into hiding, with their phones switched off.

Arif Rahman, an environmental activist, condemned the act, calling it a heinous crime led by a public representative. Beat Officer Jalal Ahmed Khan from the Forest Department confirmed that his team faced delays due to poor roads but is now gathering evidence to pursue legal action.