Highlights
- 14 specially bred research sheep stolen from university farm.
- Sheep belonged to “Dorper” and “Garole” breeds, vital for ongoing projects.
- Theft happened at night in an unguarded farm area.
- Major setback for research and students’ practical training.
The Incident
A shocking theft has taken place at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), where 14 specially bred sheep were stolen from a research farm. These sheep were of the Dorper and Garole breeds, which are widely known in the haor and char areas of Bangladesh.
The incident occurred between the night of 17 September (Wednesday) and the morning of 18 September (Thursday, around 6:30 am) at the farm located near the Faculty of Fisheries gate.
Discovery of the Theft
The theft came to light on Thursday evening, when it was confirmed that the sheep were missing from the research project farm. Shockingly, there were no guards on duty at the farm during the night, leaving the area completely unprotected.
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Statement from the Research Professor
Professor Dr. Farida Yasmin Bari, from the Department of Surgery and Obstetrics, who is directly involved in the research, expressed her deep concern:
“দরপার ও গাড়ল জাতের এই ভেড়াগুলো চর ও হাওর এলাকায় সুপরিচিত। বর্তমানে তিনটি প্রজনন প্রকল্প এবং দুটি গবেষণা প্রকল্প চলমান ছিল। প্রতিটি ভেড়ার ওজন প্রায় ৩০-৪০ কেজি। ১৪টি ভেড়া চুরি গেছে, এখন মাত্র ২-৩টি ভেড়া অবশিষ্ট আছে। এ ক্ষতি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের জন্য বড় ধাক্কা। এর আগেও রেল দুর্ঘটনায় ২০টি ভেড়া মারা গিয়েছিল।”
Translation: “These Dorper and Garole sheep are well-known in haor and char areas. At present, three breeding projects and two research projects were ongoing. Each sheep weighed around 30–40 kg. Fourteen sheep were stolen, and only 2–3 remain now. This is a huge loss for the university. Earlier, 20 sheep had already died in a railway accident.”
She further added:
“বহু পরিশ্রমে আমি এই নিউক্লিয়ার স্লট গড়ে তুলেছি, যার জন্য আমি গোল্ড মেডেল অর্জন করেছিলাম। ২০১১ সাল থেকে গবেষণা চলমান থাকায় এসব ভেড়া থেকে সিমেন কালেকশন করে শিক্ষার্থীরা ব্যবহারিক প্রশিক্ষণ পেতেন। চুরির পর শুধু আমার ব্যক্তিগত গবেষণা নয় বরং বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের স্নাতক, স্নাতকোত্তর ও পিএইচডি পর্যায়ের শিক্ষার্থীদের গবেষণারও মারাত্মক ক্ষতি হয়েছে।”
Translation: “With great effort, I established this nuclear slot, for which I received a gold medal. Since 2011, the research has been ongoing, and students used semen collection from these sheep for practical training. After the theft, not only my personal research but also the research of undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students has been severely damaged.”
Security Concerns
The Acting Chief Security Officer of BAU, Md. Nazmul Islam, admitted the lack of security at the farm during the night:
He explained that after 5 pm on Wednesday, two responsible staff members left the farm, leaving it completely unattended. When security staff arrived the next morning, they found the door lock broken and the sheep missing.
The university security team has started reviewing CCTV footage from the area to identify the culprits. A general diary (GD) with the police is also being planned.
University’s Security Council Response
Professor Dr. Md. Ariful Islam, Director of the University’s Security Council, said:
“Whenever an unexpected incident occurs, we investigate based on the complaint and identify those responsible. At present, CCTV footage from the incident site and surrounding areas is being reviewed.”
A Major Setback for Research
This theft has become a major blow not only to BAU’s long-term research projects but also to the academic training of hundreds of students. Researchers and students are now worried about how to continue their ongoing projects without the specially bred sheep.
Source: Ittefaq
