Celebrated actress and known animal rights advocate Jaya Ahsan has raised serious concerns over filming activities inside the ecologically sensitive Garo Hills forest in Sherpur’s Nalitabari region, bordering India.
Her reaction came after a group of wild elephants stormed the set of a film titled Shapla Shaluk, starring Shabnam Bubly and Abdun Noor Sajal, triggering panic among the cast and crew.
The incident occurred on the morning of May 28, when a herd of 8 to 9 wild elephants charged the shooting unit.
Actor Abdun Noor Sajal later shared a video of the incident on social media, confirming the scare. “Wild elephants frequently roam this region. Yesterday we were caught off guard. Thankfully, no one was harmed, and everyone was evacuated safely,” he told the press.
In response, Jaya Ahsan took to Facebook, posting a strongly worded statement along with a news photocard of the incident. “Another nuisance inside the forest! I urge the Forest Department to take notice. Can we just set up lights, camera, action whenever we want?” she wrote.
She further questioned the legality and ethics of such operations in a forested area: “How can loudspeakers, crew waste, and music be allowed in such a sensitive zone? This is a threat to wildlife.”
Jaya’s post has sparked widespread debate online, with many echoing her concerns about environmental disruption and the impact of human intrusion on forest ecosystems.