Wild elephant raids have increased in the border areas of Durgapur upazila in Netrokona, and nightly attacks have spread fear among local people.

On the night of 10 December, a herd of wild hill elephants rampaged through West Bijoypur and Arapara villages in Durgapur, attacking at least 20 homes. Residents fled their houses in fear, and the elephants ate the paddy and rice stored inside.

In Bhabanipur village of Kullagara Sadar union, in the same border area, a herd also caused extensive damage to crops and homes.

The herd, which came down from India after dusk on 7 December, has flattened 20–25 homes over the past three or four days. The elephants have devoured crops in border fields and paddy stored in household granaries. Some affected families are living in the open, while others have left their homes to shelter elsewhere. A farmer from West Bijoypur village has been trampled to death.

The elephants have stayed in the border area for several days and come into settlements after dark. People in the border villages are living in fear, unable to protect either their crops or their homes. They light torches and try to guard their crops and houses at the risk of their lives, but cannot stand up to the elephants. Hungry and without shelter, the affected people have lost heart, and residents of four villages are spending sleepless nights.

Meanwhile, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Rajib-ul-Ahsan has distributed cash and blankets among the affected and promised support.

Monowara Begum of Arapara village said a herd suddenly entered her home at night and smashed the posts and fencing of her house. The elephants crushed her pots and pans, clothes and all her belongings, and she fled with her three children to save their lives. The herd rampaged for about two hours and the hungry elephants ruined the rice and paddy kept in the house. "Now we don't even have a place to lay our heads," she said.

Abdul Hamed, member for ward 2 of Kullagara union parishad, said the elephants are roaming inside the Bangladesh border and attack settlements at night. Local people are terrified as the herd damages paddy, vegetables, trees and houses.

Durgapur Sadar union parishad chairman Md Sadequl Islam said the herd raided Bhabanipur village and destroyed about 200–250 maunds of paddy.

Forest officer Md Saidul Islam told Jagonews that wild elephants enter settlements every year in search of food and cause loss of life and property. The forest department does help those affected, and they will be supported under the forest department's rules, he said.

UNO Mohammad Rajib-ul-Ahsan said the herd of Indian wild elephants had caused extensive damage to crops and houses in several villages, including Arapara, West Bijoypur and Bhabanipur. "We immediately gave them Tk 2,000 to repair their damaged houses, along with winter clothing. Further help will be given later on application from those affected," he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.