In Chittagong’s Anwara Upazila, a herd of wild elephants comes down from Deyang hill and performs tandav every day in Guapanchak village of Bairag union. People, shops, cropland and even houses are not safe from the tand of wild elephant herd. The local residents have to live in fear and panic. In the hope of getting compensation, he complained to the police station, but Poha is facing many ironies.
According to the investigation of Business Bangladesh newspaper, more than 500 cases have been filed in the police station for the attack of wild elephant herd in Anwara upazila for almost 12 years. Last January 13, 2023 (Tuesday) in today’s Business Bangladesh newspaper, “Innocent people are losing their lives in wild elephant attacks. An investigative report titled “Administration and Forest Department involved in rampant syndicate trade in wild elephants” was published.
Killed in wild elephant stampede-
On July 13, 2018, Abdur Rahman (75), an old man, died in an attack by wild elephants in Mohammadpur area of Bairag Union.
On 26 June 2019, an old woman named Momena Khatun (65) was killed by a wild elephant in the old cluster village of Battali Union. On 15 July 2019, a person named Aktar Hossain Chowdhury (54) was killed in Kantirhat Holifapara area of Bairag Union.
On August 17, 2019, a man named Abdul Motaleb Babul (68) was killed at Ali Master’s house in Oiler Dwip area. On January 7, 2020, an old man named Mohammad Solaiman (85) was killed in a wild elephant attack in Noor Para of Battali Union. A woman named Rani Devi (45) was killed in a wild elephant attack in North Guapanchak village of Bairag Union on Sunday, February 2, 2020 at around 1:15 AM. She is the wife of Dr. Arun Kanti Dash. On October 11, 2021, an unidentified mentally unstable person aged approximately 50 years died in Mohammad Ulya Para area of Madhyam Guapanchak village of Bairag Union.
Last August 27 (Tuesday), Abdul Sukkur, a resident of Ward No. 5 in Guapanchak village of Bairag Union No. 1. He was going to the mosque as usual to perform obligatory prayers. A herd of wild elephants fell in front of him while leaving his house and going to the mosque. After being taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, the treatment has not improved yet. On August 22 (Thursday) at 5.00 am, they broke the iron grill in front of Abdur Rahim’s shop in Ward No. 5 Amur Para of Guapanchak village and destroyed various food items kept in the shop by eating and trampling them. On 7th August (Wednesday) at approximately 3.50 am, a herd of wild elephants ran amok in the darkness of the night at Chagun Miabari of Minnat Ali’s house and destroyed the various items kept inside the house by breaking the iron door and brick wall of the house.
Due to compensation in this incident, on August 13 (Tuesday) Chagun Mia wrote a complaint from the computer shop and went to Anwara police station to make a general diary. The police officer in charge said that now a general diary is not taken like before. You usually write a complaint instead of a diary. If the police go and investigate, you can usually make a diary.
Chagun Mia also said that I am a farmer. I live my life by doing some kind of farming and eating rice. Among them, if the herd of wild elephants breaks the door and wall of my house. I am living in a house with a broken door and wall. On the 30th, no policeman has come to investigate or inspect.
Anwara Police Station OC Molla Zakir Hossain said that if the victims of wild elephant poaching complain, there will be an investigation. There was a complaint called Chagun Mia on August 7. When asked if it has been investigated, he said that it has been investigated. The wild elephant issue will be looked into by the Environment Department. We have nothing to do here. When asked how many complaints have been submitted about wild elephants in the last one month, he said that I do not know how many complaints have been filed, I cannot say.
Banskhali Jaldi Range Officer Anisuzzan said, it is not possible to drive away the wild elephants. Then investigation will be done and compensation will be given from the forest department.
Business Bangladesh/MF