Chittagong district administration today launched an eviction drive in Railway Toton Housing area of Chittagong city ahead of the rainy season to avert possible loss of lives from landslides.

The authorities are also removing illegal connections of electricity, gas and water in the area, our Chittagong correspondent reports quoting Sheikh Jobaer Ahmed, assistant commissioner (AC land) in Kattoli circle of the district.

The district administration along with the Department of Environment (DoE) and other concerned departments started the drive around 10:00am, said Sheikh Jobaer Ahmed who led the drive.

“As many people die in landslide in the hilly districts of Bangladesh during heavy rains every year, we are evicting the people dwelling in a risky situation at the foot of hills,” Sheikh Jobaer Ahmed, also an executive magistrate.

Jarina Begum, a resident of the area, alleged that the administration started the eviction drive this morning without issuing any notice.

However, an official of Chittagong deputy commissioner’s office, told reporters that they asked people to leave the area using loudspeaker yesterday.   

The drive was on till filing of this report around 1:00pm.