The Chattogram district administration today (Monday) urged residents of nine hazardous hills in the port city to evacuate immediately due to the risk of landslides.

The authorities have also set up shelter centres at different locations across the city for people living illegally on these vulnerable hills.

The initiative aims to prevent possible casualties during the monsoon season, when prolonged rainfall saturates the soil and increases the risk of landslides, threatening the lives of people living in these vulnerable hill areas.

Since this morning, the authorities have been making announcements through loudspeakers at nine locations, including Debpahar, Tigerpass, Battali Hill and Miar Pahar, urging residents to leave their makeshift homes, as Chattogram and its surrounding areas have been experiencing heavy rainfall for the fourth consecutive day.

Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah told BSS that the Bangladesh Meteorological Department had advised maritime ports to hoist Local Cautionary Signal No. 3, indicating an increased risk of landslides.

"In view of the warning, the district administration has been urging people living in hazardous hill areas to move to safe shelters through miking," he said.

Efforts are underway to evacuate residents from Akbarshah Jheel areas 1, 2 and 3, as well as Bijoynagar Hills, Shantinagar Hills and Beltalighona Hills.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Chandgaon Circle Plaban Kumar Biswas told BSS that miking was being carried out in and around the Tankir Pahar and Amin Jute Mill areas.

Shelters have been opened at Paharika, Samabaya Abasik, Samasmit Griha Nirman, Mia Pahar, the railway hill near Muradpur Railway Station, and several nearby schools and madrasas.

Baklia Circle Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shifat Binte Ara told BSS that miking had also been conducted in the hazardous Motijharna hill area. In Baklia, announcements have been continuing since noon to alert people living on vulnerable hills and along riverbanks to move to safer places.

Agrabad Circle Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tanvir Hasan Turan told BSS that residents of the hills adjacent to the Lalkhan Bazar Pora Colony slum, Dhebarpar and Ambagan were also being urged through miking to relocate to safe shelters. People living near the seashore in North Halishahar have also been advised to evacuate.

Meanwhile, Chattogram City Corporation employees, under the direction of Mayor Dr Shahdat Hossain, have been conducting miking since this morning, urging residents in all nine landslide-prone hill areas to move to safer locations.