Five wild elephants have crossed the Indian border and the Jadukata river into the Baragop Tila (Barek Tila) area of Tahirpur upazila in Sunamganj.

Tahirpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Raihan Kabir confirmed to Jagonews24 that the elephants crossed the Jadukata river early on Sunday (6 February) and were staying on the hillock beside the river.

The elephants' arrival has spread fear across the Baragop Tila area. Afraid of the elephants, no one can go to work or to their land near the border.

Jamir Mia, a resident of Baragop Tila, told Jagonews24 that the fire in his stove is lit only when he brings firewood from the border jungle each day. "But today, with elephants in the jungle next to the house, I am too afraid to go out. So the stove has not been lit," he said.

Another resident, Samir Mia, said: "We can somehow get through the day. But how will we stay at home at night? We are very frightened with the children."

UNO Md Raihan Kabir said local people were being warned by loudspeaker announcements not to disturb the elephants.

Lt Col Mahbubur Rahman, commander of the Sunamganj-28 Border Guard Battalion, said police and BGB were stationed in the area and had been instructed to make sure no one disturbed the elephants.

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