Landslides have become a major cause for concern in Bandarban as heavy and continuous rainfall persists. People living at the foothills of mountains are at extreme risk, particularly during the monsoon season when the threat of landslides escalates significantly across the district’s seven upazilas.
According to the district administration, many people are living dangerously close to the mountain slopes. Regular incidents of landslides are reported due to unauthorized housing developments and deforestation on hills and slopes. Over the past decade, at least 105 people have lost their lives in such disasters.
Thousands of residents are living precariously in high-risk zones including the District Headquarters, Islampur, Tangki Hill, Kalaghatta, Bonrupa, Bir Bahadur Nagar, and Langipara. Similar conditions exist in other upazilas such as Lama, Naikhongchhari, and Rowangchhari. Each year, new settlements continue to emerge in these risky areas, raising serious concerns about increasing vulnerability.
Lamia Akhter, a resident of the Tangki Hill area in Islampur, said, “We have no choice but to live at the foothills due to the lack of available land on flat terrain.” She mentioned that during heavy rainfall, they seek shelter in designated safe centers.
Casualties from Landslides Over the Years:
In 2006: 3 deaths in the district headquarters In 2009: 10 deaths including children in Lama Upazila. In 2010: 10 deaths including children in Naikhongchhari In 2012: 28 deaths in Faitong Union and 10 more in Naikhongchhari.In 2017: 7 deaths in Kalaghatta and 5 more on the Ruma road
In 2021: 3 members of a family died in Chaiyngya Jhiri In 2023: A mother and daughter died In 2025 (this year): A farmer died in a landslide in Naikhongchhari.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Bandarban recorded 173mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours. In the next 24 hours, extremely heavy rainfall between 44 to 88mm is forecasted for Chattogram, Khulna, Barisal, and Sylhet divisions, increasing the landslide risk across four hilly districts, including Bandarban.
Sanatan Mondal, acting officer of the Bandarban Meteorological Office, stated that intermittent moderate to heavy rainfall has been occurring for the past five days due to monsoon activity. This rainfall is expected to continue until Saturday.
Emergency Measures in Place: Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ara Rini informed Bangladesh Post that 220 temporary shelters have been opened across seven upazilas since May 17 to handle emergencies. The administration, in collaboration with the fire service, police, civil surgeon, volunteer groups, and NGOs, has formed a 'Disaster Emergency Response Committee'.
The civil surgeon’s office and upazila health complexes have been equipped with doctors, essential medicines, and water purification tablets to ensure emergency healthcare services. For any urgent situation, residents can contact: 01309744923.
The Deputy Commissioner also noted that while hill cutting is strictly illegal, some unscrupulous individuals continue to clear hills and set up settlements under the cover of night. The administration is actively conducting raids and filing cases against such activities.
Experts Warn of Worsening Disaster if No Action Taken Local experts and concerned citizens warn that if effective steps are not taken immediately, more severe casualties may occur in the future. Due to low land costs and scarcity of flat land, low-income groups are forced to live in hazardous hilly areas, putting their lives at great risk.
