Photo: BSS

KHULNA, June 03, 2026 (BSS)- The crocodile of the pond of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (RA) shrine in Bagerhat was shifted to the Khulna Wild Life Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Khulna today for quarantine.

Talking to BSS, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Khulna Wild Life Rescue and Rehabilitation Center Nirmol Kumar Paul said the crocodile was shifted to the Khulna Rehabilitation Center around 1.15 pm for observation.

A joint team of the Department of Forest, Wild Life Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center rescued the crocodile with the help of Bagerhat district administration, and sent it to Khulna around 12.15pm.

The government will decide where the crocodile will be kept after four to seven days of quarantine and close monitoring about its behavior, he added.

Conservator of Forest in Khulna Imran Khan, Officials of Forest Department, Bagerhat District Administration, among others, were present.

Earlier, Bagerhat district administration has decided to shift the crocodile to the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center in the Sundarbans from shrine pond.

The decision was taken in a meeting on Tuesday considering the safety of local and foreign visitors and devotees visiting the shrine.

Deputy Commissioner Golam Mohammad Baten said given the recent tragic incident the authorities have taken the decision considering the visitors' safety. 

It is worth noting that 8-year-old Fatema Akhter came under the attack of the crocodile while taking a bath in the shrine pond on Monday. 

According to eyewitnesses, the crocodile grabbed the child's leg and dragged her under the water. 

Later, her body was found from the women's ghat area of the pond adjacent to the shrine next day. The incident sent a panic among among local residents, visitors and devotees.