Landslides caused by heavy rain are common during the monsoon season between June and September in our country. Many people meet the tragic end of their lives due to landslides in the hilly Chattogram, Rangamati, Bandarban, Khagrachhari and Cox’s Bazar during the monsoon every year.
A man along with his seven-month-old daughter was killed and two people were injured in a landslide caused by heavy rains in Sholoshahar area of Chattogram early Sunday. A heavy chunk of a hill fell on the victim Sohel’s tin-roofed house when they were asleep. The port city experienced heavy rains on Saturday night and early Sunday which caused the landslide in the area.
Many areas of Chattogram, Rangamati, Bandarban, Khagrachhari and Cox’s Bazar may face serious disaster as an unscrupulous 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 the influential people, who are involved in cutting the hills.
Cases are also filed against the labours but the main culprits always remain untouched as they have an unholy nexus with the local administration. Showing thumbs to the authorities concerned they are still cutting the hills and selling the soil for construction works, different national dailies ran stories in details in this regard.
The
authorities concerned must take strict
measures to protect hills so that
landslide can be prevented
while lives can be saved
Several hilly 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 threat to the people who protest the hill cutting.
Apart from hill cutting, deforestation, unplanned housing and drainage system, unplanned Jum cultivation and effects of climate change were identified as the major factors for natural and man-made disasters like landslide in the hill districts of the country. Such destruction of hills and trees over the years has made the hills risky, contributing to the disasters.
Hill cutting is still going on unabated in the name of housing as the demand for plots and flats in the hill area is very high. These hills will be facing serious consequences in the future if ‘effective steps’ are not taken to check their ruination and ensure proper use of their lands and resources.
Meteorological department predicts heavy rainfall will continue over the country throughout this month. So, local administration must evacuate the people living in the hill slopes immediately. Besides, the authorities concerned must take strict measures to protect the hills so that landslide can be prevented while lives can be saved.
