Elephant attack: Jaya Ahsan concerned over filming in forest

Jaya Ahsan, Bangladeshi actress - Wikipedia

Dhaka, May 29 – Popular actress Jaya Ahsan has expressed concern over film shooting in forest areas after a recent wild elephant attack disrupted the production of a movie in Sherpur’s Nalitabari upazila, near the Indian border.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Jaya, who is widely revered and acclaimed for raising concerns for animal safety, shared a news card titled ‘Film shooting in Garo Hills disrupted by wild elephants’ and called for the attention of the Forest Department.

“This is yet another nuisance inside the forest,” she wrote, calling the attention of the Forest Department. “Can anyone just enter the forest and begin ‘lights, camera, action’ whenever they feel like it?”

Jaya also questioned the suitability of such activities in environmentally sensitive areas. “The sound of microphones, waste from the shooting crew, music—should all these be allowed in such a sensitive area?” she raised the question, expressing her concern.

Her post came a day after a herd of wild elephants damaged the set of the film ‘Shapla Shaluk’, which is currently being shot in the remote Garo Hills region in Nalitabari, Sherpur. Several members of the cast and crew were reportedly injured while trying to flee during the attack on Wednesday morning.

Actors Shobnom Bubly and Shajal Noor are starring in the film, directed by Rasheda Akter Lajuk. Speaking to the media, the director informed that wild elephants are commonly seen in the area, and the team is now using lights around the set as a precaution.

Jaya Ahsan’s remarks have sparked discussion among netizens, with many echoing her concerns about the environmental impact of filming in forested and wildlife-prone areas. - UNB