Khagrachhari Correspondent
Around 1,090 families living on different hills under nine upazilas here are passing their days and nights under constant panic of mudslide as rainy season is going on here with full effect.
District administration sources said, of the families, around 300 have been detected at Sadar, 250 at Matiranga, 100 at Manikchhari, 50 at Laxmichhari, 75 at Panchhari, 70 at Dighinala, 80 at Ramgorh, 45 at Guimara, and 120 at Mohalchhari upazila of the district.
The sources informed that, around 20 people including men, women and children lost their lives and a huge property were damaged due to mudslides in the last 16 years. While talking to this correspondent, Network Member of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) Pradip Chowdhury blamed the administration and local government authorities for their silent role against hill plunders and unplanned construction of houses and other structures destroying the hills. He urged the authority concerned to take necessary steps to rehabilitate those families living under the threat of mudslides.
During a recent visit at Kumari village under Manikchhari upazila here, one Joynal Abedin of the area said, they have been passing days and nights amid constant panic of mudslides since the rainy season is in full effect here. He added that, they have to stay here as there is no alternative place for shifting the house.
Muslim Uddin, a villager from Shalbagan under Sadar upazila, said he lost his house due to mudslide last year and made a new house which is also under threat. He also demanded rehabilitation at safer places.
Mohammad Abdul Malek, a villager from Hatiapara under Matiranga upazila said, in the last 15 years they had to face mudslides four times with huge loss of properties.
Meanwhile, DC Muhammad Wahiduzzaman visited some mudslide-prone areas in Khagrachhari town last week. He said that they have prepared a primary list of the threatened families.
He, however, assured that a committee would be formed with his own effort to identify the vulnerable families and to rehabilitate them at safer places.
