One more death raises toll to 11

COX’S BAZAR, July 07: Hillslides in Cox’s Bazar causing loss of lives are termed as a man-made disaster as one more life was lost on Tuesday.

A fresh landslide on Tuesday afternoon in Dariyanagar of Cox’s Bazar Sadar claimed the life of a woman and injured four others, including a child. With this, the toll in the latest spell of landslides in the district rose to 11.

Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Mohammad Mizanur Rahman said illegal hill-cutting by some local residents and Rohingya refugees made many areas of the camps extremely vulnerable.

“This is not merely a natural disaster; it is, to a large extent, a human-induced tragedy,” he said. “Despite repeated warnings, illegal hill-cutting has continued. Those responsible for putting lives at risk must be brought to justice.”

Meteorologist Abdul Mannan of the Cox’s Bazar Meteorological Office said 129 millimetres of rainfall were recorded in the district during the 24 hours to 6:00 am Tuesday. An additional 47 millimetres fell between 6:00 am and 3:00 pm.

He said the Chattogram region became the country's primary rainfall hotspot, with the impact extending into Cox’s Bazar, particularly in Kutubdia, Chakaria and surrounding coastal areas.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Debdut Majumder said the recovered bodies were kept at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue and would be handed over to their families after autopsies. He urged residents to stay away from hill slopes and other landslide-prone areas.

Rohingya camp residents Rahim Uddin and Karim Ullah said every monsoon season brings fear and uncertainty. Most shelters are built on unstable slopes using bamboo, tarpaulin and other temporary materials, making them highly vulnerable during heavy rain.

Many families have already lost loved ones, while countless homes have been destroyed. They pass every day with the fear that the next landslide could wipe out everything, they said.

Beyond the refugee camps, nearly 300,000 people in Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Ramu and Ukhiya continue to live in landslide-prone hillside areas, leaving thousands at risk as heavy rains persist.

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