A wildlife inspector’s journey from forests to markets, hunting down traffickers
Asim Mallik is a wildlife inspector with the Wildlife Crime Control Unit under the Ministry of Forests and Climate Change, and this is the story of his daring exploits
He seems like a character straight out of a detective story.
From Dhaka's Paribagh to Shahrasthi in Chandpur, from Bhadal Bazar on the edge of the Sundarbans to Tripti Hotel in Cumilla, Asim Mallik moves through the shadows – sometimes posing as a buyer negotiating with wildlife traffickers, sometimes sneaking into hidden warehouses filled with parakeets, and at other times roaming forests and wetlands to track down smugglers.
In reality, Asim Mallik is a wildlife inspector with the Wildlife Crime Control Unit under the Ministry of Forests and Climate Change, and this is the story of his daring exploits.
Paribagh raid, 2020
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A source confirmed that three deer skins were stored in a room of the Sakura Bar Building, Poribag, Dhaka, but Mallik found it locked and decided to leave empty-handed.
Mallik noticed two handicraft shops on the ground floor. After observing for fifteen minutes with no customers, he decided to inspect the first shop. Among ordinary items, he spotted a glass-covered box containing two handbags made from python skin.
Posing as a buyer, he asked about the price. The elderly shopkeeper, reassured by Mallik's claim of owning businesses abroad, quietly admitted, "The handbags are python skin, priced at Tk14,000."
Mallik also noticed two vanity bags made from deer hide and a tiger-skin bag. While the shopkeeper went to have lunch, Mallik inspected the items and called RAB Executive Magistrate Sarwar Alam, who quickly coordinated a nearby patrol team. The Wildlife Crime Control Unit director also dispatched a team, and within 20–30 minutes, all units had arrived.
Using the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2012, Mallik filed cases against the shopkeeper and his associates. Each was sentenced to one year in prison, and the shop was sealed.
When asked about the buyers of these products, Mallik said: "Hotels like Intercontinental and Sonargaon are nearby, and foreigners staying there are likely the main customers, as prices here are lower than in their home countries."
Rescuing 1,445 parakeets from Ctg, 2017
Birds, especially parakeets, are highly vulnerable. They are easy to gather in large numbers, require little space, and are simple to smuggle. In 2017, Asim Mallik, together with a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) team, rescued 1,445 parakeets from Riazul Bird Market in Chattogram.
These birds are typically caught during the November–December season. Warehouse owners buy them at Tk300–400 each, and when they become scarce in April–May, sell them for Tk1,200–1,500 each.
Rescuing birds from a remote village in Chhagalnaiya, Feni, 2018
During November–December, thousands of parakeets gather in harvested paddy fields – prime time for traffickers. Asim Mallik's source tipped him off about a trafficker named Barek Member, whose house held the birds.
Around 3 am, Mallik and his team reached the village, leaving their vehicle and walking 1.5 km to Barek's house. Hiding in nearby bushes, they planned to catch him in the act. When Barek didn't appear, they entered the house despite the risk of being mistaken for thieves.
Inside, only Barek's wife was present, and no birds were visible – until a person of his team fell into a hidden pit, releasing hundreds of parakeets. Villagers arrived, warning Barek that further violations would be punished locally.
In total, 800-900 birds were rescued and later released via the Feni Deputy Commissioner's office.
Earlier, in June 2016, 2,200 munia birds had been rescued from Bhadal Bazar, Bagherhat. They had been trapped in coastal forests using nets at night.
Seizing deer, tiger skins from Bhadal Bazar, Bagerhat, April 2015
Asim Mallik's informer tipped him off about a house three km inside the market near the Sundarbans, storing deer, musk deer, and other animal skins. The area was remote, surrounded by fish enclosures.
Posing as a businessman, Mallik negotiated with the poacher for ten to twelve deer skins at Tk80,000 each, arranging delivery on a nearby bridge. He chose the road over waterways and coordinated with the police for safety.
The Detective Branch joined the operation with two contingency plans; heavy rain forced Plan B. The DB team captured three poachers while others fled.
A raid recovered ten deer skins, one musk deer skin, and one tiger skin. Cases were filed under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2012 and the Special Powers Act, and the skins were sent to Dhaka's Forest Department office for safekeeping.
Wildlife smuggling disguised as exhibitions
Asim Mallik revealed that organised smuggling networks are often aided by institutions, particularly private parks.
Shwapnopuri in Dinajpur, Manorama Mini Zoo in Meherpur, Zainul Abedin Park in Mymensingh, and Rabeya Park in Bogura are all involved, ostensibly under the guise of wildlife exhibitions.
Manorama Park in Mujibnagar, Meherpur, has become a hub for cross-border wildlife trafficking. On 25 May this year, the Wildlife Crime Control Unit rescued 27 animals from the park, including two langurs, two monkeys, eight kalems (small wild monkey), one sjaru, and one python. Politically influential owners often shield such parks from legal action.
At Zainul Abedin Park, owned by Mymensingh's municipal mayor, two bears were found injured after fighting and were rescued in April this year, sent to Gazipur Safari Park for treatment.
In February this year, 74 indigenous wild animals were rescued from Shwapnopuri. The operation recovered species such as Hoolock gibbons, Asiatic black bears, capped langurs, greater hornbills, shy monkeys, civets, spotted deer, and Rajdhani deer.
These animals had been displayed illegally for extended periods. Following initial investigations under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, legal action was taken against the responsible parties.
Hotels selling protected bird meat
Asim Mallik highlighted another aspect of wildlife crime – selling cooked bird meat in hotels.
Acting on a reliable tip, the Wildlife Crime Control Unit raided Tripti Hotel in Cumilla, located beside the Chouddogram Police Station along the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway.
Mallik and his team first posed as ordinary customers, asking if any protected bird meat was available. The waiter confirmed, "We have shelduck meat; you can taste it."
To prove it, the waiter led them to the fridge, which contained meat of ruddy shelduck, grey francolin, night heron, sarali, and dove.
The team then revealed their identities and seized all the meat. Local hotel association members and politicians arrived on the scene, expressing regret and promising to prevent such crimes in the future.
Turtle smuggling bust, Shahrasthi, Chandpur, Dec 2024
On 10 December, the Wildlife Crime Control Unit seized 800 kg of turtles, the largest shipment ever intercepted. Smugglers, posing as fishers, transport turtles to India, operating from rented houses in Chandpur with teams hired from Kushtia or Mymensingh, reinforced during peak season. Turtles often get stranded in mudflats at low tide, making them easy targets.
Acting on a tip, Mallik's team reached the target house around 11 pm, about 1 km from the main road. Inside a workshop, they carefully located the turtles, recovering roughly 1,000 individuals across three species: Sundhi Turtle – 500 kg, Kori Kitta – 280 kg, and Yellow Turtle – 20 kg.
After inspection, the turtles were released into natural water bodies.
When asked about wildlife trafficking hotspots, Asim Mallik cited almost all land ports – especially Benapole and Hili – as well as Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
Airports: A hotspot for wildlife smuggling
Airports have become key points for trafficking rare wildlife. On 7 December 2024, an Indian national was caught attempting to smuggle 4 kg of bird claws into Bangladesh via Indigo Airlines.
Inspector Asim Mallik filed a case against him at the Airport Police Station, and the seized claws were sent to the Forest Department's forensic lab for species verification.
Earlier, on 3 December 2024, some 305 foreign turtles were intercepted at the airport. The smuggler, Abul Hossain from Ashulia, Dhaka, admitted to transporting them via US-Bangla Airlines. The turtles, weighing a total of 6 kg, were secured for detailed observation.
On 29 May 2025, Mallik and his team seized 23 rare exotic animals, including eight bearded dragons, two corn snakes, two Pacman frogs, and six alligator snapping turtles. Despite the smaller number, these animals are highly valuable.
Informers near airports play a crucial role, Mallik said. In one operation, a tip led to the recovery of 8,000 black Chitra turtles from a four-story warehouse in the capital's Dakshin Khan area. The Forest Department allocates funds to support informers, who may include students, volunteers, or even former traffickers.
Asim Mallik: Life dedicated to wildlife protection
Asim Mallik hails from Kotalipara in Gopalganj, the eldest of two brothers and four sisters. His love for animals has always been deep. Personal experiences reinforced his compassion, and he was angered by poaching and the sale of birds as food.
Mallik joined the Wildlife Crime Control Unit in 2012 and trained at the Indian Institute of Wildlife, Dehradun. Last year, he also attended Forest Service training in Bhawal, Gazipur, under a US instructor, learning smart patrolling, crime investigation, and self-defence.
Acknowledging the limitations of his work, he said, "We lack investigation powers, cannot fully track smuggling networks, and have no weapons or permission to carry them. We rely on law enforcement. Coordination with national and international agencies also faces constraints. Overcoming these would help us work more effectively."
