Teen killed in Mirsarai landslide incident

A teenage boy has died following a landslide and burial under soil in the Mirsarai area of Chattogram after earth collapsed while he was digging land for household development. The incident took place on Wednesday at around 8:00 pm in the Gheramara Bortholi area under Korerhat Union in Mirsarai Upazila. Local residents recovered the body after approximately two hours of search and excavation.

The deceased has been identified as 13-year-old Sayeem Chowdhury, son of the late Bashir Mia of the same locality. Another child, Sohel Rana, aged 8, was injured in the same incident and received initial treatment locally.

According to family members, Sayeem had moved to the area around two months earlier with his mother, Saleha Begum, from Feni’s Chhagalnaiya Upazila. His two elder sisters are married, and he was contributing to household income. He worked as an auto-rickshaw driver and also assisted in masonry-related labour within the locality.

Local residents, forest officials, and police stated that the Gheramara Bortholi area falls within a reserved forest zone under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department. Over time, illegal settlements have reportedly developed in the area through hill cutting and land encroachment. Sayeem’s family had constructed a small dwelling at the base of the hill with bamboo fencing and tin sheets, with assistance from locals. Recent work had been ongoing to extend the house by levelling and filling land through cutting soil from the adjacent hill.

Eyewitness and neighbour Mili Akhter reported that Sayeem returned home after driving an auto-rickshaw on Wednesday evening and began digging soil from the hillside beside the house for land filling. Several children were playing nearby at the time. At approximately 8:00 pm, a portion of the hill suddenly collapsed, burying both Sayeem and Sohel Rana under the soil.

Local residents immediately initiated rescue efforts. Sohel Rana was pulled out first in injured condition. Sayeem was recovered later at around 10:00 pm after being found buried deeper under soil. His funeral prayers were held the following day at 11:00 am, after which he was buried.

Officials from the Forest Department confirmed awareness of the incident and noted that encroachment and hill cutting in reserved forest areas have been occurring with alleged local influence. They added that regular operations are being conducted to prevent illegal settlements and unauthorised hill cutting activities.

The Officer-in-Charge of Jorarganj Police Station, Md. Abdul Halim, stated that the matter is under investigation and that police personnel were dispatched to the site during the night.

Incident details

The incident highlights ongoing habitation and land modification activities within environmentally sensitive hill areas under forest protection jurisdiction in the region.