Incessant rainfall-triggered floods and landslides have claimed 30 lives across the southeastern region-- including 19 in Cox’s Bazar, five in Chattogram, five in Bandarban, and one in Rangamati-- Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu informed parliament on Thursday.
Delivering a formal statement under Rule 300 of the Rules of Procedure in the Jatiya Sangsad, the minister emphasized that the administration is treating the safety of affected populations in Chattogram and the Chattogram Hill Tracts with the highest priority, operating on a war footing to deliver emergency relief and meet immediate humanitarian needs.
To accommodate displaced residents, the government has set up 1,057 total shelters, comprising 41 in Chattogram, 640 in Cox’s Bazar, 21 in Rangamati, 135 in Khagrachhari, and 220 in Bandarban. Current figures show 8,340 people housed in Chattogram, 126 in Rangamati, 1,755 in Khagrachhari, and 2,173 in Bandarban.
To jumpstart the response, an initial allocation of BDT 1 million in Gratuitous Relief cash and 200 metric tonnes of rice was dispatched to each of the five districts on July 7, followed by expanded disbursements approved on Thursday.
Under the latest tranche, Chattogram received BDT 2.5 million, Cox’s Bazar BDT 2 million, and Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban received BDT 1 million each.
Additionally, extra food stocks totaling 300 metric tonnes of rice for Chattogram, 250 metric tonnes for Cox’s Bazar, and 200 metric tonnes each for the remaining three districts were allocated.
Public loudspeaker announcements remain active to persuade individuals in vulnerable zones to evacuate, while shelters have been provisioned with safe drinking water, proper sanitation, baby food, and three daily meals. Furthermore, the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund has routed BDT 2 million to each affected district.
"The Prime Minister is closely monitoring the situation and providing necessary directives. More emergency assistance will be allocated if required," Dulu stated.
Addressing the recurring fatalities caused by landslides, he noted that the government stands ready to rehabilitate families residing on hazardous hill slopes by building homes on available khas and state-owned land, while urging local parliamentarians to spearhead public awareness and support relocation efforts to curb future casualties.
Concurrently, State Minister for Land and Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin reported to Parliament that 1,300 metric tonnes of rice had already been distributed across the three hill districts on Wednesday.
With Inputs from UNB
