A heartbreaking incident unfolded on Tuesday evening as a speech-impaired young man, Nuruzzaman, lost his life in a tragic encounter with an Indian wild elephant at the Panchagarh border.
Nuruzzaman, 23, son of Abul Hossain from Tentulia upazila, was attacked around 5:15 pm in the South Kashimganj area of Banglabandha Union. The incident has left the locals in a state of panic, prompting many to be relocated to a safer distance.
Tentulia Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Fazle Rabbi confirmed the unfortunate event, stating, “One person has been killed in an elephant attack. We have evacuated the locals to a safe distance, and adequate police have been deployed in the area.”
Banglabandha Union Chairman Kudrat-e-Khuda Milon added, “Elephants have crossed the Indian border and are staying in the South Kashimganj area. Panic has gripped the area, and one person succumbed to injuries sustained in an elephant attack on Tuesday afternoon.”
Local sources reveal that Nuruzzaman, along with others, went to observe two elephants in a maize field at the border. However, the situation took a tragic turn when the elephants chased the locals, and Nuruzzaman got caught under the feet of one of the elephants.
Despite rescue efforts by locals and the Tentulia Fire Service, Nuruzzaman was transported to Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital, where he unfortunately passed away during treatment. The process of conducting an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death is currently underway.
Witnesses report the presence of two wild elephants in the South Kashimganj area, which had crossed the Indian border. Authorities, including the forest department, police, and fire service, have cautioned locals against approaching the elephants.
In response to the incident, a flag meeting of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Indian Border Guard Force (BSF) took place at border pillar number 730 around 4:30 pm on Tuesday. Efforts are underway to coordinate with a rescue team to address the situation and ensure the safety of both residents and elephants.
