A young man named Abdus Salam, 35, has been killed by a wild elephant while taking photographs in Naikhongchhari, Bandarban. The incident happened on the morning of Saturday 3 January in the Titar Para Golashira area on the Alikhyong road in Baishari union of the upazila.

Abdus Salam was the son of Abdur Sattar of the Titar Para Golashira area on the upazila's Alikhyong road.

According to local sources, at around 6:45am a wild elephant was crossing the road in front of Abdus Salam's house. Out of curiosity he went a little way behind it to take photographs. Dogs began barking nearby and the elephant suddenly became agitated. Within moments it charged at Abdus Salam and trampled him underfoot, and he died on the spot.

Ubaching Marma, union parishad member for ward 6 of Baishari union, said he went to the scene on hearing the news and recovered the body. Local people were then organised to drive the elephant away.

Mostafizur Rahman, divisional forest officer (DFO) of the Lama forest division, said that if the family of the man killed in the elephant attack applies for compensation, the upazila committee will verify it and recommend compensation. The forest department will compensate the family according to the law, he said.

Abdul Baten Mridha, officer in charge (OC) of Naikhongchhari police station, said one person had been killed in an elephant attack in Baishari union. The body has been handed to the family and an unnatural death case has been filed at the police station.

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