A specialized training workshop titled “Youth for Animal Protection: Training and Action” was held in the capital’s Banglamotor area to raise awareness and ensure youth participation in animal welfare. The event was organized by the voluntary organization Lal Sabuj Society.
The day-long workshop took place on April 27 at the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro auditorium. Around 60 students and young volunteers from various educational institutions, all eager to work in animal rescue and advocacy, participated in the program.
Sharing her experience after the session, Humayra Akhtar, a participant, said, “I learned various rescue methods and techniques that I was unaware of before. The procedures for providing immediate first aid or rescuing injured animals from the streets seemed very innovative and easy to follow.”
Jawad Anwar, founder of the ‘Bangladesh Animal Protection Initiative (BPI)’, attended the session as the lead instructor. He trained the participants on the fundamental principles of animal protection, legal steps to prevent cruelty, and the correct methods for documenting information regarding injured animals.
“Compassion alone is not enough to ensure animal welfare; we must stand by them with proper knowledge and skills,” Jawad Anwar stated. He further emphasized that accurate documentation plays a vital role in ensuring legal protection for animals. “Our goal is to empower youth to build a safe environment for animals in every neighborhood through community-based management,” he added.
Regarding the initiative, Kazi Razib Hossain, an organizer from Lal Sabuj Society, said, “The primary goal of this training is to increase sensitivity toward the animals around us. If the youth have a clear understanding of animal protection laws and rescue procedures, it is possible to create a safer environment. We want to build a dedicated team of conscious youth in every area who will step forward when an animal is in danger.”
Kazi Rajib Hossain also mentioned that such training and awareness programs will continue on a larger scale in the future to reduce violence against animals in society. The workshop concluded with the distribution of certificates among the participants.