Abuse of pet cat sparks outrage among netizens

A five-month-old cat was allegedly beaten with a metal rod inside a flat in Dhaka's Bashundhara residential area on Sunday afternoon, prompting outrage from animal lovers and rights activists on social media.

The pet's owner, who lives in the same building, accused her neighbours -- an employee of Grameenphone and another of Aristopharma -- of instructing their domestic worker to beat the cat to death.

According to a viral Facebook post by the pet owner, the cat had slipped out of her home and unknowingly entered the neighbours' apartment. Moments later, she heard its desperate cries. "I went upstairs and I saw their maid beating a white cat. I got inside and stopped her and then I realised it was my cat… She couldn't move her body, her nose was bleeding," she wrote on Facebook.

The post also claimed this was not the first such incident. "About 6 months ago, these same people threw another cat of mine from the eighth floor… I couldn't save him even after continuous treatment for nine months," the post read.

CCTV footage shared with the post shows the distressed owner carrying her injured pet and confronting the accused couple, who allegedly responded with verbal abuse and threats of legal retaliation.

The incident has sparked outrage across animal rights communities, with calls for justice and demands for accountability from both the individuals involved and their employers -- Grameenphone and Aristopharma Ltd.

Grameenphone responded to the incident today, stating, "At Grameenphone, we believe in compassion and respect for all living beings. We strongly condemn any abusive act against any living being. We are assessing this incident and will take necessary measures with utmost urgency."

Later today, Aristopharma Ltd issued a statement saying, "Aristopharma always upholds the highest ethical standards and is committed to humane behaviour towards all living beings. We have been made aware of an allegation that one of our employees has harmed an animal. We are deeply concerned about this matter and firmly believe that any inhumane behaviour towards animals is unacceptable. We are seriously investigating the issue and have taken appropriate steps to address the situation."

Meanwhile, Obhoyaronno Animal Welfare Foundation, a pioneering animal welfare organisation, in its statement on Facebook, urged both Grameenphone and Aristopharma to take decisive actions. "Let this mark a new and impactful form of Corporate Social Responsibility -- one that not only addresses human rights but also extends compassion and accountability towards animals.

"While the current Animal Welfare Act [2019] still requires significant improvement, legal consequences alone are often insufficient -- especially when individuals can exploit loopholes to avoid punishment. In such cases, social accountability becomes crucial. Public condemnation, social exclusion, loss of employment, and missed opportunities should be embraced as legitimate and effective means of holding animal abusers accountable."

It also said, "Grameenphone stands as the first -- and currently the only -- corporation in Bangladesh actively advocating for animal welfare. This incident has reached the highest levels of the organisation, and we are encouraged by the seriousness with which it is being addressed."

The pet owner on Sunday confirmed to an employee of The Daily Star that she will file a case under the Animal Welfare Act-2019 in this regard. However, this newspaper could not reach the owner or the two accused over the phone for comments.