Chittagong district administration has begun a drive to evacuate locals from 26 high-risk hill areas after Bangladesh Meteorological Department's announcement that Cyclone Mocha may cause landslides.
According to the local administration, over 6,000 families live in those hilly areas.
The district administration team began making announcements through loudspeakers from Friday evening till Saturday morning.
Volunteers were seen making announcements in three lakes near Akbar Shah police station, Shantinagar, Motijharna of Lalkhan Bazar, Batali Hill, Porakaloni Hill, Amin Jute Mill Hill, Tankir Pahar, Bhera Fakir Pahar, and Burma Colony Hill since Saturday morning.
Some families were seen leaving in vans with their belongings, while some were allegedly being forced to relocate from the high-risk areas.
Chittagong City Corporation Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury visited the city's South Patenga Ward on Saturday afternoon and began monitoring the evacuation procedure.
Md Tawhidul Islam, nejarat deputy collector (NDC) and executive magistrate of Chittagong district administration said: "With vans and volunteers, we are assisting those who are leaving their homes with fishing nets, furniture, and various tools. Some are travelling to shelters, while others are going to relatives' houses on their own accord."
"However, because the rains are yet to begin, some are still hesitant to leave. We have asked high-risk families to relocate to shelters since the emergency notice was issued. However, we will evacuate everyone before the cyclone arrives. In the hills, no one is able to stay,” he added.
There are 6,558 families residing illegally in Chittagong's 26 risky hills. Among the hills, there are 16 government-owned and 10 privately owned hills.
The rest are owned by a number of entities, including the Railways, Chittagong Wasa, Chittagong City Corporation, Public Works Department, Forest Department, Roads and Highways Department, and National Housing Authority.
In 2019, the government-formed hill management committee identified 835 families living in danger on 17 hills in Chittagong city.
In 2011, 17 individuals died, including five members of the same family, and 23 people died in 2012. Every year, landslides and deaths happen in this manner.
Every year during the rainy season, an operation in the hill areas is carried out to clear the illegal settlements, however, the number of illegal residents is gradually rising.
In 2008, a landslide killed twelve people. In 2007, Chittagong was hit by another landslide.
On June 11, 2007, some 127 persons, including children, women, and the elderly, died by landslides in seven different locations, including Kusumbagh, Kaichaghona, Lebubagan near to the Chittagong Cantonment Ladies Club, Bayezid Bostami, and the Motijharna hills of Lalkhan Bazar.