Police recovered 10 monkeys and 160 birds of rare species from Shahjalal International Airport in the capital after those were illegally imported from South Africa Thursday night.
The police said they had arrested Clearing and Forwarding agent Mostafizur Rahman, 45, in this connection. The birds and animals were brought by Nazmul Huda Manzur, a resident of Savar, they added.
According to airport Armed Police Battalion (APBn), the birds and monkeys, which include 10 Marmosets monkeys, considered as one of the smallest species, are worth around Tk 15 lakh.
The birds include 30 African grey parrots, which are known as talking parrots, 100 budgerigar, 10 rainbow lorikeets, 10 golden mantled rosella and 10 green parakeets.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Motazzar Hossain of Airport APBn told The Daily Star a team challenged Mostafiz when he along with Manzur was trying to leave the cargo village with the birds and animals onboard a pickup van.
Mostafiz tried to dodge the APBn team showing some documents but failed as forest officials, being informed, asked the law enforcers to seize the consignment, he said, adding, Manzur managed to escape.
“Wrapping in blankets they brought the 10 monkeys in two cages, while the birds were carried in seven cages,” he said, adding, the consignment was brought by a Qatar Airways flight.
Sub-inspector Siddiqur Rahman of Airport police told The Daily Star the animals and birds were handed over to them and later to the Department of Forest yesterday morning.
He added Sohel Rana, inspector of the forest department, filed a case against Mostafiz and Manzur in this regard.
The birds and monkeys were sent to the wild animals recovery centre of the forest department at Bhurulia in Gazipur. Next step will be taken upon a court order, said the SI.
Mostafiz was hauled before a court with a prayer for seven-day remand, but the court sent him to jail.
-With The Daily Star input
