C T Online Desk: Over the past 17 years, the number of casualties from landslides in Chittagong has consistently risen.
Within this period, approximately 250 individuals have lost their lives.
On June 11, 2007, a total of 127 people were killed in landslides across Chittagong, and the last landslide, which was reported on Sunday, killed two people.
The deceased Md Sohel, 35, and his seven-month daughter Bibi Jannat were residents of IW Colony in Sholoshahar area.
Apart from deaths, hundreds have been injured in these accidents as well.
In this regard, Hillol Biswas, director of the Chittagong Metro Office, Department of Environment, said: “This year, cases have been filed against many people for hill razing. No matter how influential those involved in these incidents are, they will not be spared. In most cases, landslides occur due to hill razing.”
Aliur Rahman, a journalist and network representative of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) said: “Since 2007, a total of 250 people have died in landslides. In 2007, several landslides killed 127 people.
“After the incident, a ‘Strong Hill Protection Management Committee’ was formed under the chairmanship of the deputy commissioner to prevent the loss of lives in landslides,” he said.
He said the committee identified 28 reasons for the landslide in Chittagong and made 36 recommendations, but none of them were implemented.
The death toll from landslides has not stopped as the recommendations have not been implemented even in the last 16 years, he added.
The recommendations
The set of recommendations encompassed 36 points, including directives against initiating housing projects within a 5-kilometer radius of hills, implementing emergency afforestation measures, erecting guiding walls, and establishing effective drainage systems and sturdy perimeter barriers.
Apart from that, the recommendations also asked for extracting water and sand from hill areas, prohibiting brick kilns within a 10-kilometer range of hill regions, eradicating unauthorized settlements, and more.
However, in the last 16 years, none of the recommendations have been implemented.
Initiatives by district administration
After Sunday’s incident, the district administration has taken some steps to keep the people of the area safe.
Nezarat Deputy Collector and Assistant Commissioner Hussain Muhammad said: “After Sunday’s accident, people living illegally in the hills are being evicted from Sholoshahar Railway Colony. Besides, people have been asked to move out of the city’s rugged hills since Sunday morning to avoid landslides.”
Highest deaths from landslides
The highest number of deaths in Chittagong was on June 11, 2007.
Landslides occurred at seven places including Chittagong Cantonment area, Ladies Club, Kusumbag, Kasiyagona, and other areas.
In the early hours of that day, 127 people, including women and children, were killed in these landslides in a short period.
Apart from that, according to the calculations by the district administration, 12 members of four families were killed in a landslide on August 18, 2008.
On July 1, 2011, a total of 17 people were killed when Batali Hill and a wall collapsed in the Tigerpass area.
On June 26 and 27, 2012, a total of 24 people were killed in a landslide.
According to the information given by the sub-committee on district hill management, more than 1,000 families are living at risk near 25 hills in the city.
According to the district administration, the 27th meeting of the Hill Protection Management Committee was held on August 8.
Chairman of the Hill Management Committee and Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Md Tofail Islam was present at the meeting.
He said departmental and criminal cases would be filed against the officials who helped the illegal residents of the hills with water, electricity and gas connections.
“Those living illegally in hills should be evacuated. I have nothing to say about privately owned hills. However, if there is any accident, action will be taken against the hill owners. After evicting the public and private hill encroachers, measures should be taken,” he said.
Noting that 80% of the people living in the hills are tenants, the divisional commissioner said they would make a list of illegal occupants living in the hill areas.
