The districts of Khagrachhari and Bandarban in the Chattogram Division have started taking measures to curb the damage from potential landslides.
Landslides triggered by heavy rain is a growing concern for the residents of Khagrachhari district; the local administration has opened 124 shelters in the district to facilitate relocation of the residents of the hill area and ensure their safety.
155 people have taken refuge so far, according to officials, and food is being supplied by the district administration to those taking shelter .
Nazmun Ara Sultana, deputy director of the Local Government Department and administrator of Khagrachhari Municipality, said, “In some areas, landslides have already occurred and the debris has been cleared. Residents of high-risk zones have been urged to move to safer locations.”
Meanwhile, local authorities in Lama upazila of Bandarban district have temporarily shut down around 60 resorts which are seemingly popular among tourists, according to the Upazila administration.
Lama Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Moin Uddin said the continuous heavy rain raised concerns about potential natural disasters at the resorts situated on hilly slopes.
“To prevent loss of life, all resorts in Lama’s tourist spots, including Mirinja Valley, will remain closed until further notice. They will reopen once weather conditions improve,” he said.
Landslide risks are anticipated in Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Chattogram, as rainfall continues to occur all over the country. In particular, Bandarban has already recorded 87 millimeters of rainfall in the past 24 hours as of Sunday afternoon.
Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ara Rini stated that 220 temporary shelters have been opened across the district’s seven upazilas to manage the crisis.
A “Disaster Emergency Services Committee” has been formed with coordination among the administration, fire service, police, health department, volunteer groups, and NGOs. Residents living in landslide-prone areas are being warned regarding the situation through announcements via loudspeaker.