Fatal Landslide Claims Elderly Life in Rangamati’s Baghaichhari

A tragic landslide in the Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati hill district has claimed the life of a 70-year-old man, renewing grave concerns over the safety of communities residing along the vulnerable slopes of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 am on Tuesday in the West Lailyaghona area under Ward No. 6 of Baghaichhari Municipality. The deceased has been identified as Lakshmi Bilas Chakma, son of the late Dharnachashya Chakma, and a long-term resident of the locality.

Details of the Incident

According to local administrative officials and elected representatives, Lakshmi Bilas Chakma’s homestead was situated precariously at the foot of a steep hill. On Tuesday morning, he was engaged in cutting a tree adjacent to his residence when a massive chunk of earth suddenly detached from the hillside above and collapsed directly onto him.

Trapped beneath the heavy debris, the elderly man sustained fatal injuries and passed away on the spot before any rescue operations could be initiated by neighbours or emergency services.

Administrative Response

The tragic casualty was officially confirmed by the Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Alameen Marzan. Speaking to the media shortly after the incident, the UNO expressed deep condolences and stated that administrative teams had immediately dispatched to the site to assess the situation and coordinate necessary formalities.

“Upon receiving the distressing news, I immediately departed for the spot,” the UNO remarked. “A thorough investigation will be conducted once the team fully assesses the ground reality at the site of the collapse.”

Local authorities, alongside law enforcement personnel, are currently present at the scene to assist the bereaved family and ensure the structural stability of the surrounding dwellings.

Contextual Background: A Recurring Regional Peril

This fatal accident underscores a chronic environmental and humanitarian crisis that plagues the southeastern hill districts of Bangladesh every year. The Chittagong Hill Tracts, comprising Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachhari, are highly susceptible to devastating landslides, particularly during the monsoon season when torrential rainfall triggers severe soil erosion.

Several critical factors exacerbate this regional vulnerability:

• Deforestation and Hill Cutting: Widespread, often unauthorised, hill cutting for housing, infrastructure expansion, and agricultural purposes significantly destabilises the loose, sandy soil structure of the region.

• High-Risk Settlements: Due to economic pressures and scarcity of flat land, thousands of impoverished families establish temporary or permanent homes at the direct foothills or on unstable slopes, defying administrative warnings.

• Heavy Rainfall Patterns: The region frequently experiences intense spells of precipitation, which saturate the soil, leading to sudden and catastrophic structural failures of hill slopes.

In response to these recurring disasters, the district administration periodically launches evacuation campaigns and awareness programmes to relocate vulnerable populations to makeshift cyclone and landslide shelters. However, despite these seasonal efforts, incidents like the one in Baghaichhari demonstrate the persistent danger faced by foothill communities and highlight the urgent need for a comprehensive, long-term policy regarding hill management and rehabilitation.