That nine people have been killed in separate landslides in Cox’s Bazar is nothing if not tragic. However, such deaths should not simply be dismissed as accidents but rather ignoring preventable risks.
Bangladesh’s hilly regions have long been vulnerable to landslides during the monsoon. Yet awareness remains low, enforcement weak, and preventive measures inadequate.
Unplanned settlements on fragile slopes, indiscriminate deforestation, and poor drainage systems have all contributed to landslides over the years. When heavy rains arrive, the soil cannot hold, and lives are buried under mud and debris.
Authorities may issue warnings, but warnings alone clearly do not save lives, especially if those warnings are not communicated properly. It is clear that communities in these regions need more support, from strict regulation of hillside construction to sustained investment in slope stabilization.
Residents must understand the risks of living on unstable slopes, and local governments must ensure that vulnerable families are not left with no choice but to build in danger zones. Schools, mosques, and public gathering spots in these areas can play a role in spreading this information.
Prevention, however, requires action. The deforestation that has continued in these regions has not helped, and we need accountability, especially against those who profit from unsafe hillside development.
Landslides are not always inevitable disasters but are oftentimes the consequence of neglect. The Cox’s Bazar deaths are a grim reminder that Bangladesh must treat landslide prevention more seriously.
We cannot normalize landslides as seasonal tragedies. Every life lost is proof that we are failing to act.