Fifteen forest rangers including veterinarians, were injured after an elephant, previously wounded by a landmine explosion along the Myanmar border, turned violent during a rescue and treatment attempt in Bandarban’s Naikhongchhari next to Bangladesh Myanmar border on Friday afternoon.
According to Cox’s Bazar South Forest Department Officer Md Nurul Islam, the elephant was injured on 10 August when it stepped on a landmine planted near the border area. That same night, the animal crossed into Bangladesh through Jaruliyachhari–Ashartoli border in Naikhongchhari.
Forest officials, after receiving information from locals, began monitoring its movements. They reported that shrapnel had left the elephant’s front right leg nearly paralysed, forcing it to move on three legs. The elephant eventually took shelter in the protected forest of Dariyadighi in Ramu upazila.
Ramu’s Rajarkul Range Officer Ali Newaz said that to ensure proper treatment, a team of 15 officers, including Dulahazara Safari Park veterinary surgeon Hatim Sazzad Julkarnine and Gazipur Safari Park veterinary surgeon Md Mostafizur Rahman, entered the forest to approach the elephant. However, as the team got closer, the elephant suddenly became aggressive and attacked them from behind, leaving all members of the treatment and observation team injured. In the chaos, the elephant even seized a firearm from the security personnel and threw it deep into the forest, though it was later recovered.
Two of the injured veterinarians have been taken to Dhaka’s Combined Military Hospital (CMH), while the others are receiving treatment at Cox’s Bazar district hospital and local facilities.
Veternary doctors from Dulahazara Safari Park said the elephant, suffering from severe leg wounds, is struggling to forage for food and has grown weak due to blood loss and dehydration. They emphasised that the animal requires long-term intensive care to recover.
Despite the incident, divisional forest officials confirmed that monitoring of the elephant continues and efforts are ongoing to provide it with treatment.
