United News of Bangladesh

Two elephants- Nihar Kali, Samrat Bahadur-  have again been taken into the custody of the Forest Department over alleged breaches of conditions imposed when they were handed over to their owners. The elephants have been brought to Gazipur Safari Park for rehabilitation on Monday night, said Tarek Rahman, Safari Park acting officer and Assistant Conservator of Forests. The female elephant, Nihar Kali, was taken into custody from Sreemangal in Moulvibazar, while the male elephant, Samrat Bahadur, was taken from an area adjacent to Shiluya Tea Garden in Juri upazila, he said. The two elephants were brought to Gazipur Safari Park under the supervision of the Forest Department, he added. The elephants were earlier handed over to their owners under several conditions. However, following allegations that the conditions were violated, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo ordered that the elephants be taken back into Forest Department custody. Earlier, in 2024, mahout Nazrul Islam was crushed to death under Samrat Bahadur's feet. Allegations were also raised that the elephants were being used to collect money and were subjected to mistreatment. Following the incidents, the Forest Department rescued the two elephants and took them into its custody. They were later brought to Gazipur Safari Park for rehabilitation. At the request of the owners, the Forest Department handed the elephants back to them on August 12 under several conditions. However, after allegations of violations of those conditions emerged, authorities ordered that the elephants be taken back into Forest Department custody, officials said.