Elephants kill two Bangladeshi farmers

COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh, Dec 2 (Reuters) Wild elephants destroyed a watch-tower and trampled two farmers to death in southeastern Bangladesh, police and forestry officials said today.

The victims were in a watch-tower guarding farmland near Damdamia, 450 km (280 miles) southeast of the capital Dhaka, when around 10 elephants strayed into the area from a forest yesterday night, they said.

At least 15 people are killed by elephants in Bangladesh each year as forests shrink due to encroachment by the rising population, forest officials say.

One of the most densely populated nations, Bangladesh has forest cover of only 17.5 per cent.

REUTERS PDM BD1448