Human-animal conflict: Honey collector dies after being mauled by tiger in the Sundarbans
A honey collector died after being mauled by a tiger in the Sundarbans on Friday.
The deceased was identified as Rejaul Karim (35) of Chawkbara village under Gabura union in Satkhira's Shyamnagar upazila, reports our correspondent quoting forest officials and family members.
The incident took place in the evening deep inside a swamp in Gorarkhal area under West Sundarbans Burigowalini Station, said Station Officer Sultan Ahmed.
"The victim's body was brought back to the village around noon today," he said.
Rejaul was among nine honey collectors who went deep inside the swamp to collect honey on May 8 after collecting passes from the station, and were resting in Gorarkhal area on Friday evening in their boats, said Iyar Ali, who employed the honey collectors.
Rejaul and another honey collector had then gone into the forest which is when he was mauled by the tiger, which pulled him inside the forest.
Rejaul's companions, armed with oars and canes, then tried to rescue him and the tiger eventually left, he said.
"My grandfather was killed by a tiger. Now my father has also been mauled to death by a tiger. I told him many times not to go deep inside the swamp, but he used to say our livelihood lies there. Now how will we live?" Rejaul's daughter Rikta Khatun said.
Rejaul's wife Murshida Khatun said she now has no means to support her family of three daughters and a son, and called upon the authorities concerned to come forward to help her family.
"The family has been really unfortunate. Rejaul's father Nur Islam was killed by a tiger in 2014; now he [Rejaul] is also dead. There is not much employment opportunity in the area. It is uncertain how the family will sustain," said Masudul Alam, chairman of Gabura Union Parishad.
"The Sundarbans is the only livelihood for many people in this area, and this year there have been numerous attacks by tigers here," he added.
The victim's family will be given Tk 10,000 from Shyamnagar upazila parishad, while there will be other assistance from the government, said Ataul Haque, chairman of the upazila parishad.
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