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Landslide danger a risk to Khagrachhari lives

KAHL MAHMUD, Khagrachhari
Hundreds of people living on or near the hills in Khagrachhari District have become vulnerable to the risk of landslide because of heavy rain for the last several days.
At least seven people were injured and eight houses destroyed in landslides at Shalbagan, Adarshagram, Mollapara, Sabujbag, Kalabagan, Kumillatila areas of the district town, and at Matiranga, Rangarh, Mahalchhari upazilas of the district, due to cutting down ofhiils to build houses.
Because of the continuing rainfall, the people of
hilly areas are passing sleepless nights amid fear of landslides that could happen at any time, but the local administration isyetto cany out a survey of those people or take any initiative to evacuate them to a safe place.
The administration only alerted the inhabitants and asked them to take shelter in safe places.
Muslim Uddin, 35, who has been living on a hill slope at Shalbagan village under Khagrachhari Municipality, said they are afraid as they do not have anywhere to go.
Amana Bagum, who lives at Mollapara area of Khagrachhari Municipality,
said no government official has gone there to see lite situation.
Mohammad fakir, who has been living on a hilltop of Harinathpara, said his neighbour had cut the hill to increase his land. This year, the hill has started to slide down and they were both at risk now.
Environmental activists blamed the indiscriminate cutting of hills, unplanned construction of houses and negligence of local administration for the situation.
Abu Daud, a network member of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) Khagrachhari unit, said "due to the rising popula-
tion the hills were cut down indiscriminately for making houses, but the local administration did not take any step to stop it."
He added that the number of families at risk may be in the thousands now, and urged the local administration and the government to conduct a survey to identify those at risk and rehabilitate them. He also asked them to protect the hills.
Muhammad Wahiduzzaman, the deputy commissioner of Khagrachhari district, said he had asked the upazila nirbahi officers to conduct a survey of vulnerable households and be prepared to give aid to landslide victims.