Kurigram farmers worry over damage of crops in Indian elephant attack

Farmers of the bordering area in Roumari upazila of Kurigram have been passing their days in worries for the damage of their crops by a herd of wild elephants from India over the last one week.

The herd of wild elephants enter the area every night and eat up paddy and other crops, causing huge losses to farmers, reports news agency UNB.

Though the farmers try to drive the elephants away by torching fire and playing drums but to no avail.

Locals said the herd of 25-30 wild elephants have been entering the bordering area of the upazila through Garo hill for the last one week and destroying the crops in Algachar, Kheuarchar, Bakbanda, Jhaubari, Chuliarchar and Boraibari areas.

The affected famers said the elephants enter the area through the pillar no. 1057 and 1072 every night and then took position at the no man’s land after damaging their crops. It also attacked the houses of the farmers, they said.

“The herd of elephants have destroyed paddy of one bigha of my land and other crops. I suffer a huge loss due to the elephants every year,” said Abul Hossain, a resident of Baraibari char.

Mohammad Ruhul Amin, former MP of Roumari upazila, said, “We’ve informed the matter to the authorities concerned of the two countries to prevent the entrance of the elephants.”

Shahriar Hossain, an upazila agriculture officer, said they were working to assess the losses in the area. “We have asked the farmers to harvest their paddy as soon as possible.”

Mohammad Al Imran, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, said they have informed the matter to the higher authorities concerned.

According to a study, 'Status of Asian Elephants in Bangladesh' jointly conducted by International Union for Conservation of Nature, Bangladesh (IUCN) and Bangladesh Forest Department, there are 39 natural crossing points that elephants use regularly to migrate between Bangladesh and neighbouring countries.

Among the points, 33 are along the Indian border and remaining six are on the Myanmar frontier. Most of the crossing points fall in Bangladesh's northern part.

About the vagrant trans-boundary elephant-crossing points, the study revealed that seven points were identified along the international boundary of northeastern districts of Bangladesh.

Wild elephants from India enter Bangladesh by breaking the barbed-wire fences or crossing rivers. They enter the localities of Bangladesh seeking food as they have lost their natural habitats.