Page 119 - Navy Journal 219

Landslide in Hilly ...

Landslide has become a very common hazard in Bangladesh during
monsoon, especially in hilly areas of Chittagong. Landslide has become a terror
here for its increasing trend of frequency and damage. A natural hill on earth is a
stable surface. It holds a balance of its components and can maintain its stability.
If the balance system is disturbed by any natural cause or by improper
interactions of human being, it can cause landslides. The landslides of Chittagong
are causing mostly because human are steeping the hills day by day by hill
cutting activities. The foot of the hills are the main areas where the soil grabbers
cut the hills. Those are causing the steepness of hills. Steep of hills are vulnerable
for sliding land. Jhum cultivation, deforestation, removal of hilltop vegetation
and excessive rain due to climate change are the causes of land slide in hilly
regions of Bangladesh.
Landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide
range of ground movement, such as rock falls, deep failure of slopes and shallow
debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments.
Although the action of gravity is the primary driving force for a landslide to occur,
there are other contributing factors affecting the original slope stability. By human
exploitation along the hill for various purposes, resulting in soil erosion as well as
causing much loss to the residents who live nearby. This is a normal event that
occurs in the hilly areas, but not to be taken seriously because of lack of response
from the majority party and its residents. Because, landslides are not taken
seriously by certain parties including residents who are brave enough to build
their houses on the hill. Due to the negligence of greedy people who cannot
control development on hills claimed many lives and destroyed property,

No matter what, landslides are caused by lack of awareness and knowledge of
various parties including its residents. They are less aware of the disasters set up
home in dangerous slopes. This recurrence leads to deterioration of the environment
and affect the hilly areas of Chittagong, which is an important economic and tourist
center. This is due to the ignorance of various parties who are not aware and
not knowledgeable of landslide disaster. Many hills have been destroyed to set up
factory construction. Animals become extinct due to human activities which do
not have compassion on the destruction of this beautiful nature. This activity
invites other disasters such as flash floods, sedimentation, and so forth. All levels of
society should be aware and must have a high knowledge in order to maintain a
natural environment for safer life of our future generations.

111