A financial donation cheques of Tk 13 lakh 60 thousand has been distributed as compensation to the families killed and affected by wild elephant attack in Chattogram's Banshkhali.
Banshkhali Upazila Executive Officer Jasmine Akhter presided over the cheques distribution ceremony held at the Upazila Officers Club hall on Saturday afternoon. Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury, Member of Parliament of Chattogram-16 (Banshkhali) Constituency was present as the chief guest.
Md. Anisuzzaman Sheikh, Range Officer of Jaldi Sanctuary Range and Officer-in-Charge of Banshkhali Ecopark. Chattogram Divisional Officer Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Rafiqul Islam, Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Officer Dipanbita Bhattacharya, Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Abu Chalek, Upazila Fisheries Officer Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury, Upazila Awami League General Secretary Professor Abdul Gafur, Awami League organizing secretary Mohiuddin Chowdhury Khoka, Kathria Union Parishad chairman Ibn Amin, Chambal Union Parishad Chairman Mujibul Haque Chowdhury, Zobair Chowdhury and Banshkhali Ecopark officer-in-charge Md Israfil spoke as special guests.
MP Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury said, "We all have to work together to preserve the habitat of wild elephants." Because people go to the mountains and cut trees and soil, the herds of wild elephants are forced to enter the locality. Leave the profession of cutting trees and cutting soil and be interested in other professions. Cutting trees and soil from mountains is a legally punishable offence. It is not possible to protect the forest only by a handful of forest department personnel. So we all have to be aware.
At the end of the discussion meeting, a financial donation cheques of Tk 3 lakh was given as compensation to the families of those killed in wild elephant attacks. They are - Anwara Begum of Puichhari area, Dipti Dev, Shah Alam, Chenwara Begum of Chambal area. In addition, a total cheques of 13 lakh 60 thousand taka was distributed to Nurul Quader, 40 thousand taka to Harunur Rashid, 45 thousand taka to Md Rashed, 40 thousand taka to Md Hossain.