A shelter on St. Martin's Island can hold about 240 dogs

A shelter for dogs is open on St. Martin's Island, Bangladesh's only coral island. The Daily Star reported it on November 4, 2026. Bidyanondo Foundation built 20 units, each able to hold up to 12 dogs, for a capacity of about 240 at a time. Two veterinarians supervise care. Dogs are taken in, treated, and sterilised on site. Animals that are sick or injured can remain. Dogs that are healthy again are released back onto the island.

Board director Mohammad Jamal Uddin told the paper that the dogs had lived largely on scraps from tourists, hotels, and restaurants. When the government restricted tourism to protect the island, that food went with the crowds. The Daily Star put the island's dog population at almost 4,000. Founder Kishor Kumar Das said the sight of the animals pushed him to start the shelter. Volunteers from Germany and Peru, including Jolpia and Jessica, have been helping. Jamal Uddin invited islanders and visitors to walk through the units and say what still needs work. The report is about this new shelter. It does not say how many dogs are inside on a given day.