Govt to compensate people killed, injured in wild animal attack

The government will compensate if anyone is killed or injured by wild animals including tigers, elephants, crocodiles and bears.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will pay a maximum of Tk3 lakh to the family of the deceased and Tk1 lakh to the seriously injured, said a recent circular of the ministry.

According to the circular, the government will pay a maximum Tk50,000 in compensation if any person or organisation is harmed in the locality outside the government forest due to the attack of wild animals.

However, if a person is injured or killed in an animal attack after entering a government forest without permission, he or she will not receive this compensation.

If someone gets injured after intentionally attacking a wild animal or while trying to hunt any wild animal illegally, he will not get this compensation.

In addition, safari park officials and employees who are entitled to get government risk allowances, foreign nationals and victims of wild animal attacks on no man's land will not get this benefit.

The circular said the families of those killed and injured in the wild animal attack should apply to the range officer or officer in charge of the Forest Department for compensation in the prescribed form within 60 days of the incident. If they apply after the stipulated time, they have to mention the reasons for applying late.