Bashundhara Shuvosangho has distributed torchlights among farmers in the border areas of Durgapur upazila in Netrokona to help protect them from increasing wild elephant attacks.
The torchlights were distributed on Friday among farmers in the border-adjacent villages of Farungpara and Bhabanipur.
Present at the event were local community representative Md Shahin Mia, Bashundhara Shuvosangho Vice Presidents Rajesh Gaur and Delwar Hossain Talukdar, General Secretary Al Noman Shanto, and other local dignitaries.
The farmers who received the torchlights included Shah Alam, Chandan Hajong, Salam Mia, Swadhin Alam, Khokon Hossain, Tuta Mia, Siraj Mia and Mozammel Haque.
For years, villages along the border area have suffered crop damage and loss of life due to wild elephant attacks. Recently, herds of elephants have entered local settlements and destroyed large areas of farmland. Two weeks ago, an indigenous youth was killed in a night time elephant attack while returning home after guarding crops, increasing fear among farmers and residents in the area.
Alongside the distribution programme, organisers also raised awareness among farmers and shared safety advice on how to avoid elephant attacks.
According to the organisers, torchlights will help villagers detect elephant movements in the dark and quickly move to safer locations.
Farmer Khokon Hossain said villagers often try to drive elephants away using fire and torchlight beams when the animals enter their communities.
He added that elephant attacks mostly occur at night, and people also face danger while moving around because elephants often hide in bushes before attacking suddenly. He said the torchlights would be very useful for the villagers.
Bashundhara Shuvosangho General Secretary Al Noman Shanto said human-elephant conflict has been a long-standing issue in the border region. Every year, wild elephants destroy crops and sometimes kill people, making nighttime movement and crop protection highly risky for farmers.
He said the organisation distributed torchlights to help ensure safer movement and protect lives.
Local community representative Shahin Mia described the initiative as timely and expressed hope that Bashundhara Shuvosangho would continue such humanitarian activities in the future.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
