Landslides in southeastern Bangladesh have resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals, including eight Rohingya refugees, following heavy monsoon rains on July 7, 2026. The incidents occurred at four locations in the Cox's Bazar refugee camps, where hillsides collapsed, burying shelters and their occupants while they slept.
Details of the Tragic Incident
According to reports, rescuers recovered seven bodies from the debris, while another was discovered by fellow refugees. Dollar Tripura, a civil defense official, confirmed the recovery efforts to The Associated Press. A Bangladeshi man was also killed when a hillside collapsed onto his home.
Among the victims, Ali Ahmed, a Rohingya refugee, shared his grief: “We fled Myanmar in 2017 to escape persecution. Now I’ve lost my family here too, and I don’t know what lies ahead for me,” he told Reuters.
Background on the Rohingya Crisis
Over one million Rohingya live in overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar, the largest refugee settlement in the world, after fleeing Myanmar in 2017 due to a military crackdown. Most shelters are constructed from bamboo and plastic sheets on steep, deforested hillsides, making them vulnerable to landslides and flooding during the annual monsoon season.
- 36 refugees died in similar landslides from 2021 to 2026, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency.
- Authorities have relocated approximately 1,000 refugees from high-risk areas and plan to move several thousand more.
Future Concerns Amid Renewed Violence
The meteorological department has predicted more heavy rain in the upcoming days, raising concerns for the already vulnerable refugee population. Additionally, renewed fighting in Myanmar's Rakhine state between the military and the Arakan Army has led to fears of increased refugee flows into Bangladesh.
In response, Bangladeshi authorities are enhancing monitoring efforts, with reports of individuals gathering near the border, potentially seeking refuge.
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by Al Jazeera. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
