Teen Killed in Elephant Attack at National Zoo
A tragic incident occurred at the National Zoo in Mirpur, Dhaka, where a 17-year-old boy, Zahid Ali, was fatally injured by an elephant. The attack happened around 11 am on the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr. Zahid was the son of Azad Ali, an elephant handler employed at the zoo.
According to Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Talukder, the Zoo Director, one of the zoo's five elephants became aggressive and attacked the young man in the presence of his father. Following the attack, rather than alerting zoo authorities, Azad Ali immediately transported his son in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in an attempt to reach a hospital for emergency treatment. Unfortunately, Zahid Ali succumbed to his injuries during the journey.
After the incident, the elephant involved was isolated and placed under special observation. The zoo administration has not released an official statement concerning the events that led to Zahid's death. Azad Ali has since taken his son's body to their hometown of Kulaura in Moulvibazar for burial.
