Two doctors injured in elephant attack brought to Dhaka

Three people, including two veterinary surgeons, were seriously injured while treating a wild elephant injured in a landmine explosion on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

They have been brought to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka for advanced treatment.

The injured were airlifted from Cox's Bazar Military Hospital to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka by a BGB helicopter at 10am on Saturday (August 16).

The injured are— Veterinary Surgeon of Dulahazara Safari Park Dr. Hatem Sazzad Md. Zulkarnain, Veterinary Surgeon of Gazipur Safari Park Dr. Md. Mostafizur Rahman and Member Secretary of Cox's Bazar District Branch of Save the Nature of Bangladesh Md. Atiqur Rahman.

This information was given in a press release signed by BGB Headquarters Public Relations Officer Md. Shariful Islam.

The release said that three people were seriously injured in an elephant attack while they were treating the elephant injured in a mine explosion in the Baluchara South hills of Rajarkul Thoayingyakata area of Ramu upazila in Cox's Bazar district on Friday afternoon.

According to the Forest Department, the elephant's front right leg has been almost paralyzed in the explosion. The soles of its feet and nails have been blown off. The elephant is walking with a limp. The elephant is also having difficulty collecting food due to the pain.

Doctors said that the elephant is suffering from anemia and dehydration and has become weak. Long-term intensive care is required to recover it.

In this regard, Ramu Range Officer Ali Newaz said that the elephant was seriously injured in a landmine explosion planted near the Myanmar border last Sunday and later entered Bangladesh. On receiving the news, he went to the Dariyardighi Reserve Forest of Ramu Upazila with 15 members of the Forest Department along with some doctors on Friday.

He further said that after reaching there, the elephant suddenly attacked them before they could realize its presence. The elephant even snatched one of the people's guns and threw them into the forest, which was later recovered.

Cox's Bazar South Forest Division Divisional Officer Md. Nurul Islam said: "We are making every effort to ensure the treatment of the injured elephant. Although the forest department staff was injured, they are performing their duties at the risk of their lives."