The fear of landslides that emerges in the Chittagong Hill Tracts whenever the monsoon arrives is deeply concerning. The memory of the devastating landslide that occurred in Rangamati on June 13, 2017, still sends shivers down our spines.
In that tragedy, about 113 innocent people, including five members of the armed forces, lost their lives in a single night. Regrettably, even after nearly nine years since that incident, there has been no significant change either in the mindset of people living in high-risk areas or in the actual conditions on the ground.
Despite the danger, the number of hazardous settlements at the foothills continues to increase every year, which is alarming.
According to a report published yesterday in The Daily Ittefaq, numerous families in areas such as Bhedbhedi, Shimultali, Rupnagar, and other upazilas of Rangamati are living in extremely vulnerable conditions on hill slopes.
At the beginning of the monsoon season, the administration is seen taking temporary measures such as making public announcements through loudspeakers, distributing leaflets, and requesting residents to move to shelters. However, members of civil society complain that these activities are merely “seasonal.”
Once the monsoon passes, both the administration and local residents tend to become indifferent again. As a result, the practice of cutting hills and constructing risky settlements continues unabated.
No matter how much we write against hill-cutting, influential individuals—including, at times, people associated with the ruling party—are often involved in such activities. If they themselves fail to follow government regulations, it cannot be guaranteed that ordinary citizens will refrain from cutting hills.
Therefore, the law must be upheld, and nature and the environment must not be harmed. Human beings are children of nature; it is no exaggeration to say that if nature cannot survive, humanity’s prospects for survival become bleak.
The perspective of the poor and homeless must also be considered here, and it is even more heartbreaking. Driven by poverty and necessity, they have been compelled to take shelter at the foothills despite the extreme risk to their lives.
If the government does not provide adequate arrangements for permanent alternative rehabilitation, where else can they go? Simply relocating them temporarily to shelters cannot offer a lasting solution to this grave crisis.
It should, however, be acknowledged that the current Rangamati district administration has taken some early warning measures to prevent fatalities from landslides and has identified high-risk areas while continuing efforts toward rehabilitation.
This is undoubtedly a positive step. Although the unique geographical characteristics of the hill regions make the rehabilitation process time-consuming, greater emphasis must be placed on permanent and sustainable resettlement.
It is worth noting that nearly 60 percent of the hills in Chattogram Metropolitan Area have disappeared over the past few decades. Yet, under the Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (amended in 2010), cutting any hill or mound—whether government-owned or privately owned—is completely prohibited and constitutes a punishable offense.
Naturally, one may ask: what is the benefit of having such a law if it is not effectively enforced? The punishment for violating this law is up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to 200,000 taka, or both for a first offense.
For repeat offenses, the penalty may extend to ten years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to 1 million taka, or both, along with provisions for compensation. Even so, it is difficult to accept the continued large-scale destruction of hills year after year.
We believe that this problem cannot be permanently solved through temporary monsoon-season measures alone. Hill-cutting must be strictly prevented, and legal action must be taken against those who violate environmental laws.
At the same time, it is essential to adopt a comprehensive and sustainable master plan for the rapid and permanent rehabilitation of displaced people living at the foothills. To avert humanitarian disasters, the administration, local representatives, and people from all sectors of society must work together with determination to accomplish this crucial task.
Otherwise, it may become impossible to prevent even greater tragedies in the future.
