Editorial
Deaths in landslide
A scientific approach to settlements in the hills needed
THE death of some 52 people as hundreds of tons of mud and rock fell on their houses in Cox's Bazar and Bandarban districts reminds us of similar deaths of hill dwellers in the past. We condole the deaths in the landslides and express our deepest sympathy to the bereaved families.
One may also recall that after the death of some 13 people in landslides at Teknaf in 2008, the upazila administration evacuated some 5,000 people from the hillside settlements and provided them with temporary shelters in different schools. But as no measures were taken for their rehabilitation, they again returned to the hills and settled there. Unfortunately, hill settlers, who are perennially exposed to the fury of the elements, are a forgotten lot and no permanent measures have ever been taken for their proper rehabilitation.
As it happened on the morning of Tuesday, the landslides usually occur mostly during torrential rains. But though they are aware of the danger, the hill settlers resign themselves to their fate, as they have few options open before them. And it is not that the administration is not aware of their precarious existence, either. But it is after each such disaster the administration swings into action, evacuate the victim families to some temporary shelters and then forget everything until the next calamity occurs.
The government should come out of this attitude of abandonment towards the hill settlers and find out a way of rehabilitating them under securer conditions. And before taking the move, it will be necessary to carry out a survey of the hills where people from the plain land have built their settlements and which of the places on the hills near such settlements are exposed to the danger of similar mudslides.
Landslides, albeit they are mainly natural in origin, have also many inducing factors behind them. One such factor is the illegal predatory habit of felling trees and cutting of earth from the hills. As a result, the soil of the hills is eroded, thereby loosening its capacity to hold on during heavy rains. As it happened last Tuesday, two days' torrential rain caused deadly mudslides and took their tolls. And it is this cumulative interference in the natural resources of the hill that we have been witness to their disastrous fallouts in the past and their repetition.
But what preventive measures are there to protect these hill settlers maintaining a precarious existence day in and day out? The first step would be to stop illegal settlements on the hillsides. Second, the spots on the hills where degeneration of soil capital have taken place and where cracks have developed should be identified through a study. Those risky spots have to be marked with appropriate signposts. And last but not least, the authorities should take a scientific approach about any settlement of people on the hillsides.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 
Related News
India’s ‘push-in’ strategy violates international law
1 hour(s) ago
Editorial
Why build roads through a reserved forest?
6 hour(s) ago
Editorial
An alarming report on children’s exposure to climate risks
19 June 2026, 19:07 PM
Editorial
Why is safe water inaccessible for millions despite rising spending?
19 June 2026, 08:00 AM
Editorial
BB must confront bad loans’ true scale
18 June 2026, 18:38 PM
Editorial
Comments