Jaya Ahsan Urges Bangladesh to Shut Down Zoos, Citing Inhumane Conditions

Acclaimed actress and passionate animal rights advocate Jaya Ahsan has once again spoken out for the voiceless—this time demanding the closure of all zoos in Bangladesh. Her emotional appeal follows a heart-wrenching report about a bear suffering in deplorable conditions at the mini zoo located in Zainul Abedin Park, Mymensingh.

The details are disturbing: the bear is reportedly rotting alive, with part of its leg already detached and a strong stench coming from its festering wounds. Wildlife experts say recovery is unlikely.

Deeply shaken by this cruelty, Jaya took to her official Facebook page to voice her outrage. In her post, she called zoos “prisons” where innocent creatures are punished without ever committing a crime. Her plea: “Let all the prisons called zoos around the world be shut down.” Her words struck a chord, igniting a wave of support from netizens who echoed her sentiments online.

This isn’t the first time Jaya has stepped into the legal arena to defend animals. Recently, she filed a writ petition in the High Court to end the abuse of elephants in captivity. Her bold move led to a court-ordered suspension of licenses for adopting elephants from the wild, a major victory for animal welfare in the country.

Known not just for her stellar performances in films like Debi, but also for her relentless advocacy, Jaya was honored in 2021 with the “Pranobik Bondhu” Award by the People for Animal Welfare (PAW) Foundation.

Her recent stand has reignited a crucial conversation about animal rights in Bangladesh. With growing public awareness and support, her message is loud and clear: it’s time to rethink captivity and choose compassion.