Bangladeshi lawyer seeks Taka 1 cr compensation over death of elephant

Dhaka, Aug 18 (IANS) A Bangladeshi lawyer has filed a writ petition in the High Court in Dhaka seeking its direction to the government to collect Taka one crore as compensation from those who are responsible for the death of Indian wild elephant Bangabahadur.

In the petition, Eunus Ali Akond asked the court to direct the government to form a judicial inquiry committee to probe the elephant's death on August 16, the Daily Star reported.

He said, in the petition, that the government is responsible for protecting and preserving the environment and wildlife under the constitution.

Akond said the court may hold a hearing on the petition on August 20.

On Wednesday, Akond sent a legal notice to the government requesting it to form a judicial inquiry committee within 24 hours for investigating the cause of death of Bangabahadur.

The lawyer in the notice said Bangabahadur might have died due to tranquiliser overdose on August 16 at Koyra village under Sharishabari upazila of Jamalpur.

The Indian elephant was swept across the Bangladesh border in strong river currents over a month ago.

The elephant was buried by the villagers.