4 killed in Chattogram landslides

At least four people were killed and three others injured after rain-triggered landslides struck their houses in different areas of Chattogram on Saturday.

Wali Uddin Akbar, officer-in-charge of Akbar Shah police station, told The Business Standard (TBS), "The first landslide occurred in the port city's Barisal Ghona area at around 1 am."

"Two sisters – Shahinur Akhter, 26, Mahinur Akhter, 24 – died on the spot. Their parents, who were injured in the accident, are currently undergoing treatment at the Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH)," he said.

"Besides, two brothers were killed in the landslide that occurred in the Bijoy Nagar area of Foy's Lake at around 3:30 am," OC Wali Uddin said.

"The deceased are – Liton, 30, and Emon, 14, sons of Mujibur Rahman," the OC added.

Local administration in 2019 identified some 835 families - mostly poor - living in the 17 most vulnerable hills in Chattogram.

Of the hills, 10 are privately owned while the remaining seven are owned by Chattogram City Corporation, Railway, Chattogram Wasa, Public Works Department and National Housing Authority.

As per government data, a total of 207 people were killed in landslides in Chattogram in the last decade.

The heavy downpours that started three days ago inundated many parts of the city.

The authorities concerned issued a warning on Friday asking the residents living on the hill slope to vacate their places immediately.

Nineteen shelters have been kept ready in different parts of the city to tackle the situation.

Evicting illegal occupants from the hills is not possible for the district administration alone, said Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mominur Rahman.

After visiting the site of the landslide on Saturday afternoon, he said, "Thousands of families are living with life risks in Chattogram hills. Every year, they are evicted in the monsoon season and they come back again in the dry season."

If the hill owners do not cooperate, then the district administration alone will never be able to solve this issue. As a result, casualties will continue to occur, he said.
 
The district administration has paid Tk25,000 in compensation to those killed in the landslides and Tk15,000 to the six injured.