One of the two large-sized crocodiles of the dighi (tank) adjacent to historic Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (R) Mazar in Bagerhat has died. The deceased crocodile was a male one.

The dead crocodile was lifted from the dighi  at the directive of the local administration on Thursday (October 19) evening.

Earlier in the afternoon, locals saw the dead male crocodile was floating on the south-west corner of the dighi. Receiving information, police, officials from the Department of Livestock, upazila administration, mazar authorities, khadems and visitors thronged the mazar premises.

Meanwhile, Dr Lutfar Rahman, Director of the Khulna Division of the Department of Livestock, said an autopsy would be carried out to know the real causes of the crocodile’s death.

“The crocodile also fell sick some three years ago. Then we provided it treatment. It was quite well. We will conduct postmortem of the body of the crocodile. We will try to ascertain the causes of its death,” he said.

Earlier on June 12, 2021, the crocodile fell sick. At that time, the crocodile was lifted with the help of Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center of the Sundarbans East Forest Department and local khadems of the mazar. The crocodile was given treatment by the Department of Livestock Resources. Since then the crocodile had been physically well. Local fakirs claimed that an eye of the crocodile was blind.

Bagerhat Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge (OC) KM Azizul Islam said, “Receiving information we have arrived at the place of occurrence. The male species of the two crocodiles brought from Madras of India has died. Now, khadems have made allegations. Besides, a postmortem will be carried out. Legal steps will be taken once we received the postmortem report.”

During the reign of Sultans at the beginning of the 14th century AD, Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (R) established ‘Khaliftabad’ city or state in Bagerhat. At that time, 360 tanks were dug at his directives in the region. Of those, ‘Thakur Dighi’ was the largest one. His mousoleum is also situated on the bank of this river. He released two marsh crocodiles, named ‘Kalapahar’ and ‘Dholapahar’ into the dighi. Following the death of Khan Jahan Ali (R), khadems of the mazar and devotees used to provide food to the two crocodiles. Kalapahar died in 2006 and Dholapahar in 2015. The hide of Dholapahar has been preserved at Bagerhat Museum.

In order to maintain the tradition of crocodiles, six crocodiles were brought from Madras Crocodile Bank of India in 2005 and those were released into the dighi of the mazar. Two of the crocodiles died after fighting against each other. Then two crocodiles were sent to Karamjal Wildlife Protection Centre in the Sundarbans, while the rest two have been reared in the mazar’s dighi. The female crocodile laid eggs several times but none of the eggs could be hatched. With the death of male crocodile, the female crocodile has lost her companion.