A herd of elephants has been killing people for the past five to six years in the area, a local representative says

A Correspondent, Ctg:

Two people have died in an elephant attack in Bairag Union in Chattogram’s Anwara Upazila.

The victims were identified as 60-year-old Md Kashem from the Ashrayan Project area in Ward No. 6 and 38-year-old Rehana Begum from the Khoshal Talukder House area in Ward No. 8.

Md Noab Ali, chairman of the Bairag Union council, said that Dulal was attacked first on Monday night, while Rehana was attacked later.

“Rehana was buried in the morning without an autopsy at the urging of the family. Dulal’s funeral prayers are being held. His body will not undergo an autopsy either. He will be buried after the prayer service,” Noab said.

“A herd of elephants attacked the Ashrayan Project buildings around 8pm last night,” he said, citing locals. “An elephant picked Dulal up with its trunk before smashing him to the ground. He was then trampled under their feet.”

“Then, around 1:30am, the herd reached the Khoshal Talukder House area in Ward No. 8, Rehana was looking at the passing herd in front of her house when an elephant attacked her unprovoked and threw her to the ground.”

Dulal was a day labourer and hailed from Guapanchak’s Shah Ahmed House area. He did not own any land of his own. For the past few years he has lived with his wife, three daughters, and two sons at a home provided under the state-backed Ashrayan Project.

Rehana’s husband is Md Akhtar. They lived in the Khoshal Talukder House area in Ward No. 8.

“The elephant herd lives in the KPZ area,” Noab said. “When night fell, they came down into the localities and ran amok. These elephants have been regularly killing people in the area for the past five to six years.”

“We have reported the incident to the Forest Department and the local administration, but no action has been taken. Now there is great concern about these elephants among locals.”

A farmer named Lutu Mia, 55, was killed in an elephant attack in the Daulatpur area of neighbouring Karnaphuli Upazila’s Borouthan Union on the night of Sept 11.