Elderly man dies in elephant attack in Chittagong

A septuagenarian died in an elephant attack at Satkania upazila in Chittagong on Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Nurul Kabir, 70.

The incident took place around 10:30am at Durduri area under Charati union of the upazila.

Abdus Salam Chowdhury, Satkania Upazila Nirbahi Officer told the Dhaka Tribune that a wild elephant suddenly attacked the elderly person when he was working in his garden adjacent to a hill.

“He succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital,” the UNO said, adding that the number of elephant attacks has risen in the area in recent times.  

Villagers in fear of wild elephant attacks in Chittagong

Panic-stricken villagers are passing sleepless nights amid fear of attack by rampaging wild elephants in some areas of Chittagong.

The elephants come to the villages at night, destroy paddy fields and leave before daybreak triggering panic among the locals.

Acute food shortage in the forest is compelling the wild elephants to invade crop fields, said wildlife conservationists.   

Abu Naser Md. Yasin Newaz, Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife Management & Nature Conservation Division, Chittagong told the Dhaka Tribune that the incidents of human-elephant attacks rose alarmingly in Chittagong region mainly due to habitat loss.

“During the dry season, wild elephants come to the locality in search of food and water. The incidents of wild elephant attack particularly rise during paddy harvesting season. Wild elephants behave violently if disturbed,” he said.

“People should not overreact towards them. Any sort of overreaction may result in human casualty. The elephants will move away after damaging some crops. We will give proper compensation to the affected people for any damage done to the crop fields or any property. So, there is nothing to panic here,” added the DFO.