A young woman was killed in an elephant attack in Lama upazila of Bandarban. 

The incident occurred as a group of wild elephants attacked local houses in Sorai union on Tuesday night.

The victim Rahima Begum, 20, a speech-impaired person, died as she was trying to get to safety.

During the attack, banana orchards and seedbeds were destroyed along with multiple houses in the area. Panic spread among the locals after the incident.

According to sources, the elephants first started tearing down the house of one Abul Miah, a resident of the neighbourhood. Later, they began destroying other houses in the area as well. At that time, Rahima Begum, abandoned her house to get to safety. However, she encountered an elephant attack and was killed on the spot.

Aziznagar Union Parishad Chairman Jasim Uddin said: “Locals fear another attack on their lives and property as the elephants have still not left in the area.”

Lama Divisional Forest Officer SM Kaichar said: “I have received news that wild elephants had attacked houses in Sorai and Aziznagar union of Lama upazila. Soon, the Forest Department will make arrangements to compensate the girl’s family and other victims of the recent attack.”

Meanwhile, Lama police station OC (investigation) Md Alamgir said: “The body of the girl killed in an elephant attack was recovered and handed over to her family.”

Across the world, big herds of elephants, faced with shrinking forest cover and human encroachment of their corridors, venture into human settlements looking for food and attack those who try to stop them. 

Similarly, due to the ever-increasing deforestation in the hills leading to a crisis of food and habitat for wild animals, frequent elephant attacks are witnessed in Lama, Alikadam, Naikhongchhari, and Sadar upazilas of the district.