Panic has gripped residents across five villages adjacent to the Sundarbans in Bagerhat’s Sharankhola Upazila after a tiger entered human settlement from the forest and roamed through the area over two consecutive days.
The affected villages under Southkhali Union comprise East Sonatala, Panirghat, Model Bazar, West Sonatala, and Bokultala.
Forest officials have been unable to confirm whether the tiger is still hiding within the locality or has returned to the forest.
According to local sources, the tiger was first spotted on Saturday night around 10pm.
Abdur Rob Howlader, a resident of West Sonatala village, was returning home when he illuminated the tiger with his flashlight. The animal quickly retreated into a nearby paddy field.
The following morning, Sarwar Howlader, a local farmer, went to apply pesticide to his paddy field and discovered tiger pugmarks.
Frightened, he returned home without spraying the field and alerted villagers, alongside members of the Village Tiger Response Team (VTRT) and Community Patrol Group (CPG).
Speaking on Monday afternoon, CPG member Md Khalil Jomadder confirmed that VTRT and CPG teams visited the site and found numerous pugmarks across paddy fields, house yards, and riverbanks.
He explained that the tiger initially crossed Bhola river near the residence of Abu Rajjak Akon in West Sonatala village to enter the locality.
It subsequently roamed across a 2.5 to 3-kilometre area spanning Panirghat, Model Bazar, and East Sonatala villages. The Forest Department was immediately notified.
Locals reported further movements during the night. Md Ratan Khan, a resident of West Sonatala, said the tiger circled the cattle shed at the homestead of Shah Alam Howlader.
In addition, footprints were found behind the kitchen of Asadul Howlader’s house in Panirghat area. Khan expressed concern that the tiger might still be hiding nearby.
The incident comes just a week after another tiger crossed Bhola river into the same village on the morning of 19 October.
Residents suspect that the same animal may be repeatedly entering human settlement in search of food.
The recurring visits within a week have left villagers terrified, with many refraining from venturing outdoors at night and fearing to work in their gardens and paddy fields during the day.
In response, the Forest Department has issued a special alert across a 10-kilometre area adjacent to the forest.
Patrols comprising forest guards, VTRT, CPG members, and local volunteers have been deployed, whilst announcements are being broadcast via loudspeakers advising villagers to exercise caution, avoid travelling alone at night, and keep children and livestock secure. Search teams are also operating drones to detect the tiger’s position.
Md Shariful Islam, assistant conservator of forests (ACF) for Sharankhola Range under East Sundarbans Division, confirmed that pugmarks in the paddy fields indicated erratic movement by the tiger.
He said efforts involving ground patrols, local residents, and drone surveillance are ongoing to determine whether the animal remains in the village or has retreated into the forest.
