Negligence costs 5 lives in Sitakunda

We are, once again, saddened to know that five more precious lives were lost due to landslides in Sitakunda, Chittagong. It is incomprehensible that even after over 170 people were killed just five weeks ago, because of landslides, the local administration has failed to make sure people in these vulnerable areas are evacuated to safety. The administration thought it was enough to merely warn the people of impending disaster through loudspeakers. Such apathy and negligence in the wake of a tragedy is unacceptable.

A few days ago, in the 17th meeting of the high-powered Hill Management Committee (HMC), local officials found some time for introspection, and vowed to take action against individuals who had so irresponsibly settled people on risky hill slopes in Jungle Salimpur and Sitakunda, where the latest tragedy took place. Despite such promises no concrete action has so far been taken to address the problem.

Indeed, the administration snaps the connection of utilities during the rainy season, and now warns it will do so again, but one wonders whether that alone would solve anything. Forcing people to choose the lesser of two dangers did not work before. If they have nowhere else to go, common sense tells us, they will continue living there despite the dangers.  

We urge the local administrations to evacuate vulnerable people from the already identified danger zones such as Jungle Salimpur, after ensuring rehabilitation for the landless and poor among those people. All the danger zones should then be under regular surveillance to prevent them from being reoccupied. We cannot afford to let more lives be lost.