United News of Bangladesh

A young man lost his right leg in a landmine explosion along the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar on Monday. The incident occurred around 10:30 am in the Hauserdip area of the Hoikkhong Lombabil border under Teknaf upazila, police said. The victim was identified as Mohammad Hanif, 22, son of Md Fazlul Haque of Lombabil under Ward No. 3 of Hoikkhong union. According to family members, Hanif went to a shrimp enclosure in the border area to catch fish when a landmine buried in the embankment exploded. The blast severed his right leg at the ankle and caused serious injuries to his left leg. Minor girl struck in cross-border gunfire in Cox’s Bazar Fazlul Haque said his son was rescued around noon with the help of locals and taken to the MSF Hospital in Kutupalong for treatment. Confirming the incident, sub-inspector Khokon Kanti Rudra, in-charge of Hoikkhong Police Outpost, said a landmine planted near the Bangladesh–Myanmar border exploded, leaving the youth injured. The injured was sent to hospital for medical treatment, he added.

Two wild elephants entered Bangladesh from Myanmar Saturday crossing the River Naf.  The members of the Elephant Response Team led by Teknaf Range Officer of Cox's Bazar South Forest Department Syed Ashiq Ahmed pushed the elephants back into the forest after hours of trying. It is believed that the two elephants were trying to cross the River Naf from Myanmar and entered the forest area along the Teknaf border after facing a shortage of food. Seeing the curious locals, they started running back and forth along the border. Also read: Garo man trampled to death by elephant in Sherpur In August last year, another elephant from Myanmar crossed the river to enter Bangladesh, Ashiq said. The elephant is a "critically endangered" species in Bangladesh, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. Faced with shrinking forest cover and human encroachment of their corridors, wild elephants are under serious threat in southeast Bangladesh. Also read: Wild elephant kills 70-year-old in Chattogram The construction of huge settlements on forest land and hills has also restricted their free movement. Also, ever-increasing deforestation in the hills is leading to a crisis of food and habitat for wild animals, making the elephants venture into human settlements in search of food and attack those who try to stop them.