Three elephant attack victims, two veterinary surgeons and one conservationist, were airlifted to Dhaka from Cox’s Bazar by a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) helicopter for advanced treatment on Friday.
The injured were identified as Dr Hatem Sajjat Md Julkarnain, veterinary surgeon of Dulahazra Safari Park, Dr Md Mostafizur Rahman, veterinary surgeon of Gazipur Safari
Park, and Md Atikur Rahman, member secretary of Save the Nature of Bangladesh, Cox’s Bazar chapter.
According to BGB headquarters, the elephant had sustained serious injuries in a landmine explosion along the Bangladesh–Myanmar border earlier this month. On Friday afternoon, when a rescue team attempted treatment at Rajarkul Thoinggyakata of Baluchhara South Hills in Ramu upazila, the distressed animal turned violent, attacking the vets and conservation worker.
They were first rushed to Ramu Cantonment for emergency medical attention. Later, a BGB helicopter carried them to Dhaka for specialised treatment, confirmed BGB Public Relations officer Shariful Islam.
Forest officials said the elephant had crossed into Bangladesh territory after being hurt in the borderlandmine blast. Since then, it had been wandering in villages of Cox’s Bazar’s Naikhongchhari and Ramu upazilas. Locals reported the animal struggling to move, with severe injuries to one of its front legs caused by shrapnel from the explosion.
Bangladesh shares a long and porous border with Myanmar, where clashes between the military and armed groups have intensified in recent months. Forest officials fear that wild elephants, which regularly migrate across the border, face increasing risks from landmines planted along conflict zones.
Conservation groups expressed concern, noting that injured elephants often become aggressive due to trauma and pain. They urged greater cross-border coordination to prevent further casualties of endangered Asian elephants, whose population is already under threat in Bangladesh.