The authorities have asked the residents of Bandarban to clear the hilly areas of the town to avert possible landslide-related accidents.
The initiative was taken after heavy rainfall over the past few days.
In order to alert people to move to safer places, announcements were made using megaphones in the town’s Hafez Ghona, Islampur, Kalaghata, Baruartek, and Balaghata areas.
Simon Sarkar, Bandarban executive magistrate and district relief and rehabilitation officer, said that they had prepared 140 shelters in the seven upazilas of the district for the people.
“Since Bandarban is a hilly area, landslides occur during the monsoon resulting in serious loss and damage,” he added.
According to local authorities, some 20,000 people from 4,500 families in Lama Sadar, Ghazalia, Rupsipara, Sorai, Aziznagar, Fansiakhali, and Faitang unions are at risk of landslides.
Last month, parts of Lama, Alikadam and Naikhongchhari upazilas submerged due to heavy rainfall, triggering fear of landslides among the locals.