We express profound shock and sorrow at the death of nine Rohingya people in landslides caused by heavy rain at Balukhali camps in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar district on Wednesday.
A good number of people meet the tragic end of their lives due to landslides in the hill areas of Chattogram, Rangamati, Bandarban, Khagrachhari and Cox’s Bazar districts as well as parts of the Sylhet region.
Landslides triggered by heavy downpour are common in our country during the monsoon season between June and September.
Many areas of Chattogram, Rangamati, Bandarban, Khagrachhari and Cox’s Bazar may face serious disaster as an influential quarter continues cutting the hills there, in gross breach of environmental laws. The authorities concerned sometimes conduct raids to stop hill cutting and fine influential people, who are involved in cutting the hills.
Cases are also filed against the labourers but the main culprits always remain untouched as they have an unholy nexus with the local administration, it is alleged. Thumbing their nose at the authorities concerned, they are still cutting the hills and selling soil for construction works, according to reports run by different national dailies in this regard.
Landslides triggered
by heavy downpour are common in our
country
during the monsoon season
between June and September
Several hill areas are being levelled by the organised influential quarter under the very nose of the local administration. These influential people and musclemen in association with local armed middlemen also issue threats to the people who protest hill cutting.
Apart from hill cutting, deforestation, unplanned housing and drainage systems, unplanned Jhum cultivation, and effects of climate change were identified as the major factors for natural and man-made disasters like landslides in the hill districts of the country. Such destruction of hills and trees over the years has made the hills risky, leading to disasters.
People living in those areas are still facing natural and man-made disasters as no effective steps have been taken in this regard yet. Hill cutting is going on unabated in the name of housing as the demand for plots and flats in the hill areas is very high.
These hills will face serious consequences in near future if ‘effective steps’ are not taken to check their ruination and ensure proper use of their lands and resources. The meteorological department forecasts that heavy rainfall will continue over the country throughout this month.
The local administration must immediately evacuate the people, living on the hill slopes, to safer places. Besides, the authorities concerned must take necessary measures to protect the hills and save the lives of people.
