The local administration yesterday launched an eviction drive in Motijhorna area under Khulshi police station in the city.
On the first day of the drive, a total of 30 families were evicted as a measure of precaution to avert possible loss of lives from landslides ahead of monsoon.  
A four-member team led by the executive magistrates began the drive at 11:45am also severed the connection to the illegal utility service including gas, power and water.  
After a meeting on June 2, the Divisional Hill Management Committee (DHMC) which is a composite of 15 government agencies issued a warning to the residents of 11 hills that are prone to landslides.
In order to prevent casualties from landslides caused by heavy rainfall, the DHMC also asked the 666 unauthorised families living illegally in the downhill in different areas of the city to relocate their habitat to safer places on their own by June 9.
Some evicted settlers, however, complained that they neither get any eviction notice nor hear any direction given by loudspeakers.
“People from the low-income group – mostly garment workers, rickshaw pullers and day labourers – are the ones who are living here. I do not live here out of joy. Rather, I am compelled to live here as I cannot afford to rent a better house. The government can easily give us land where we would build houses at our own cost,” said Jhorna Begum, a slum-dweller in the Motijhorna area.
Replying to a query, Jhorna said that she rented the house at Tk 1200 from Badal Babu who owns 30 shanties at Motijhorna hill.
“A serious conspiracy is being hatched against us since we are poor. Only the shanties are being demolished. However, the other semi pucca and pucca houses are not evicted,” alleged Khadiza Begum, a sexagenarian slum dweller of Motijhorna hill. “We will not move anywhere. We will not budge an inch,” said Ankhi, another slum dweller.
Binning the allegation of not serving any prior notice to the slum dwellers, Saiful Islam, assistant commissioner (Land) told The Independent that they had asked the residents in risky hill areas to move to
safer places since living on top of these hills is very risky and torrential rains could claim their lives.
“We have asked the people living precariously through loudspeaker to shift their homes. We also threatened to start eviction drive from June 9 if they do not comply with our order. However, they did not pay heed to our direction,” said Saiful.
“The drive will continue in the days to come. We have identified 11 hills as very risky for possible landslide,” added Saiful.
Responding to a question, the Assistant Commissioner said,” I do not know anything about the rehabilitation. It will be settled in the meeting of the DHMC.”
Landslides triggered by heavy rains in and around Chittagong city have claimed over 250 lives between 1999 and 2014. The death toll includes the 127 who lost their lives in a single catastrophic landslide in 2007. The disasters took place in Lalkhan Bazar, Motijharna, Tankir Pahar, Batali Hill, Akber Shah and Pahartali areas.

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