Thousands defy death threats from landslides

As many as one million illegal settlers reside on huge tracts of forestland and near foothills of Cox’s Bazar, at least 0.3m of whom are in areas vulnerable to landslides, forest department sources said.    Landslides usually occur after periods of heavy rain and have proved to be potentially deadly in the past.    More than 200 people died in the last five years in landslides in the hilly terrains, triggered by incessant downpours.    The frequent events of landslide prompted the district administration and forest department to take initiatives to move people to safer locations, but those in the mountainous areas are unwilling to abandon their homes, officials involved with evacuation drives said.   Even the families that had been taken to safer places, after heavy monsoon rains began about two weeks ago, eventually returned to the death traps they call “home”, officials noted.    According to an estimate, about 62 people including six soldiers of 17 ECB Army Camp perished in a mudslide caused by heavy downpour at the Himchari area in Ramu, on June 15, 2010.    About 13 people including four members of a family had died when mudslides at Fakira Mura and Tunnya areas in Teknaf buried their houses on July 4 and 6, 2008.    Likewise, 29 people were killed in landslides on June 26 and 27, 2012.    Sources say the number of people living near foothills at the seven upazilas of Cox’s Bazar may even exceed two millions, though chances are the sandy soils may cave in anytime with the slightest of rainfalls.    About 10,500 acres of forest land are reportedly being encroached upon by the illegal settlers, who are also engaged in cutting hills and levelling hillside grounds to make room for their homes.    Areas where hill-cutting is taking place include: Ghonar Para, Mohajer Para, Boidyaghona, Boillapara, Jadi Pahar, Khaja Manjil area, Badshaghona, Faterghona, Islampur, Halima Para, Light House Para, Abu Ukiler Ghona, Rahmania Madrasa area, Pahartoli and Bacha Miyar Ghona.    Hill-cutting is also taking place at the areas adjacent to Hashemiya Madrasha, Shahittika Polli, BDR Camp, Larpara, Upazia headquarters, Circuit House, Power House, Link Road, hilly terrains on either side of Kolatoli Bypass road and at Himchari.    In addition, illegal settlements were built on the encroached land at Ukhiya, Teknaf, Ramu, Sadar Upazila, Chakoria, Pekua and Maheshkhali.    On June 9, Cox’s Bazar environment department filed two separate cases against 34 people on charges of hill-cutting, bringing the total number of cases in this regard to 8 in the last one month.    The forest department, too, has filed hundreds of lawsuits against thousands of people for occupying protected forest areas. Allegations are rife that a number of politically influential people are involved in the hill-cutting business.    Bipul Krishna Das, deputy forest ranger of Cox’s Bazar forest department (south), said they are holding talks with the district commissioner about taking “appropriate steps” to rehabilitate the illegal settlers.    “We conduct awareness-generating programmes to make people aware of the perils of living in hills. Eviction drives were conducted in many places in the past and more will be done in the future too,” he said.    Cox’s Bazar District Commissioner Md Ruhul Amin said the authorities have taken “stringent measures” against those involved with hill-cutting.    “A joint taskforce, including officials of district administration, forest department, environment department, members of BGB and police, was formed to deal with the issue. Our officials, using microphones, are alerting people to the dangers of cutting hills and settling on forest land every day,” he said.