250 families evacuated from hilly areas in Chattogram fearing landslide

A total of 250 families living in the hills have been shifted to safer places due to heavy rains for two days in Chattogram.

To this end, a drive was conducted in the hills at the initiative of the deputy commissioner of Chattogram, reports UNB.

Chattogram DC Abul Bashar Mohammad Fakhruzzaman, in his presence, conducted the drive in Bijoy Nagar and Jheel hills of Akbarshah area of the city on Saturday night and sent 250 families to two shelter homes.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Masud Kamal, Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate of Katli Circle Omar Faruk, Staff Officer-in-Charge (DC) Plabon Kumar Biswas and Officer-in-Charge Akbarshah Police Station were also present at the time.

Chattogram has been witnessing continuous rainfall for the last two days. Every day, the district administration is giving instructions to people to move out of vulnerable places.

“We are working to ensure that people do not have to die in the hills. The team of the district administration is working every day to make everyone aware. Even today, I myself have evacuated 250 families from the vulnerable hills and taken them to shelters. We have arranged for them every meal including dry food. All the families living in vulnerable hills have been instructed to stay in 19 shelters,” said DC Fakhruzzaman.

According to the directives of the Supreme Court, those living at the foot of the hill in Beltalighona were evicted from the risky place a few days ago. Those involved in hill cutting have been booked under the Environment Act, he said.

The district administration is working with zero tolerance in Chattogram to protect the hills, whether it is owned by the person or the government, action has already been taken against all those involved in cutting the hills, he added.