The number of people living in the hills in Cox’s Bazar has been increasing with each day passing raising concerns of deadly landslides.
Local sources said the death tolls in landslides are increasing due to negligence of the concerned authority in the district.
In Cox’s Bazar Sadar and several upazilas, around three hundred thousand people are living at risk at the foothills.
From 2015 to the present year, 52 people’s deaths have been recorded due to landslides.
Every year, at the beginning of the monsoon, the district administration and other relevant authorities only alert people living in the hilly areas by announcing through loudspeakers to move to safe shelters. As a result, the unwanted death rate cannot be avoided each year.
In the early morning of June 21, a couple died in a landslide in the Badshaghona area of Cox’s Bazar city. According to concerned authorities, if hill and hillock cutting cannot be stopped, the number of people living in risky areas will increase, as will the number of deaths due to landslides, potentially at a geometric rate.
District administration sources said that they have informed the people living in the hilly area to move to safer places.
According to the Cox's Bazar District Relief and Rehabilitation Office sources, due to landslides in Cox’s Bazar, a total of 52 people have died from 2015 to the present year. Of these, the number of deaths was five in 2015, it was five in 2016, four in 2017, five in 2018, four in 2019, 12 in 2021 and five in 2022. However, the district administration does not have records of the number of deaths in landslides in 2020 and 2013.
In 2024, there were two landslides in Cox’s Bazar- Rohingya camp landslide on June 19 and the Badhshaghona area landslide on June 21. In these two landslides, 12 people died. This brings the total to 52 deaths over the past 9 years.
Cox’s Bazar Forest Division sources informed that till the present time, 25,007.69 acres of forest land have been occupied.
Concerned authorities said that in areas such as Chakaria, Ramu, Eidgaon, Ukhiya, Teknaf, Pekua and Maheshkhali upazilas, the number of people living at high risk in places by cutting hills and hillocks is increasing. Among them, the highest risk is in five wards of Cox's Bazar municipality.
When the monsoon arrives, the administration only threatens those for eviction but to evict them, they did not take any necessary steps so far. To avoid unwanted death, there is no alternative than to relocate those living at risk.
HM Ershad, a journalist and the President of the Cox's Bazar district chapter of the Bangladesh Environmental Movement (BAPA), said that although landslides cause fatalities in the district every year, the relocation of those living at risk to safer places only begins when the monsoon season arrives. Even then, these efforts remain limited to paperwork. No actions are visible during the dry season.
As a result, influential people facilitate settlements in exchange for money by cutting down hills without facing any significant obstacles. This not only destroys the environment but also leads to unwanted deaths. Therefore, it is impossible to avoid this responsibility without taking effective measures to stop hill cutting.
ANM Helal Uddin, president of the Cox's Bazar Citizens' Forum, said that if the High Court's order to preserve the hills and Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) in Cox's Bazar were implemented, there would not be so many fatalities every year.
However, it seems that no one is fulfilling their responsibilities. Nevertheless, the district administration claims that operations against hill cutting are ongoing as always, he added.
Cox's Bazar Additional District Magistrate Md Ataul Goni Osmani said that the permanent relocation of those living at risk in the hills is a long-term process. Still, the district administration has taken action plans to mitigate risks. After several emergency meetings on this matter, a subcommittee has already been formed with the relevant ward councillors. Announcements are already being made in the risky areas via loudspeakers.
District Commissioner Muhammad Shaheen Imran said that without self-awareness, it is difficult to avoid risks. In this regard, public awareness is important. He urged the public to refrain from cutting hills to maintain natural balance and advised planting more trees.
