It is worrying to note that heavy rainfall is likely to occur in different parts of the country for the next two to three days, causing landslides in the hilly areas of the Chattogram division. Ours is a densely populated developing country. Hilly or mountainous terrain occupies around 12 per cent of the total area of Bangladesh. Due to scarcity of land, people are forced to live at foothills or on the slopes of hills. Landslide has become a major disaster in the hilly regions of the country, occurring almost every year. From physical survey, it is observed that soil characteristic of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is alluvial, silty clay which is vulnerable to landslides.

There is no denying the fact that hills stand as shields for protecting   natural environment. Cutting of hills rampantly triggered disasters in the past. Human activities such as deforestation, jhoom cultivation and hill cutting have made the slopes unstable. Some influential people including those belonging to the ruling party are abetting the crime. This kind of patronage of the hill cutters is wreaking havoc. In addition, excessive rainfall during monsoon cause rain cut erosion which results in landslides. During the last five decades, CHT suffered about 12 major landslides. Most devastating landslides occurred in 2007 and 2017.

Bangladesh is one of the countries which are most vulnerable to climate change, and in these countries natural disasters such as these have become all too common. What have made thing worse is the fact that despite their familiarity with the dangers of monsoon season, local authorities have found it difficult to carry out rescue operations during bad weather. The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that the population in the hilly districts is increasing rapidly and in no way are the hills are safe for habitation especially in their current state.

The government should work in coordination with local communities to move the vulnerable people to safer places. Every year, people are moved into temporary tents during the monsoon season. This however is hardly a permanent solution. Superior hill and forest management, consultation with local communities and better weather forecasts are imperative to protect the people from the onslaught of landslides.