Five Children Die As Bangladesh Moves Refugees From Landslide-Hit Camps Amid Heavy Rains

Authorities in Bangladesh have intensified evacuation efforts across Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar after monsoon-triggered landslides killed at least 13 refugees, including five children. Officials used loudspeakers, volunteers and community leaders on Thursday to relocate families from vulnerable hillside areas as heavy rainfall continued to threaten one of the world’s largest refugee settlements. The latest tragedy occurred on Wednesday when a landslide struck an Islamic school inside a refugee camp, burying students and teachers beneath debris.

At least five children were killed after a section of the building collapsed during preparations for lessons. More than one million Rohingya refugees from neighbouring Myanmar currently live in the sprawling camps, where makeshift shelters built on unstable slopes are highly vulnerable to heavy monsoon rains. Begum Jahan, a teacher at the school, described scenes of panic as the landslide hit. She said those on one side of the building managed to escape, while others were trapped beneath the rubble. “Some suffered broken arms, and some of the girls lost their lives,” she said, recalling the chaos that followed the collapse.

Local residents and Rohingya volunteers began rescue efforts immediately before emergency services reached the site. Dollar Tripura, head of the local fire service and civil defence, said rescue personnel later evacuated the injured, recovered the bodies and concluded the operation on Wednesday evening. Jamal Hossain, a Rohingya volunteer who participated in the rescue, said the deceased recovered from the site were women and girls. He added that rescuers could not immediately confirm whether additional victims remained trapped beneath the debris.

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Following the incident, authorities accelerated the relocation of refugees living in high-risk areas. Officials in Cox’s Bazar said more than 1,000 people had already been evacuated from vulnerable hillsides to safer locations. The administration noted that many refugees are often reluctant to leave their shelters despite repeated warnings, fearing the loss of their belongings or uncertain conditions at temporary shelters. The refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar experience severe risks during Bangladesh’s annual monsoon season. Heavy rainfall frequently triggers landslides, flooding and infrastructure damage because shelters are built using bamboo frames and tarpaulin sheets on deforested hills.

Humanitarian agencies have long warned that overcrowding and fragile terrain make the camps particularly susceptible to weather-related disasters. The landslides also come amid widespread monsoon devastation across Bangladesh. Local media reported that at least 22 people have died nationwide over the past three days due to landslides and wall collapses caused by persistent heavy rainfall. Authorities continue to monitor weather conditions as more rain is forecast in several parts of the country. Emergency responders, humanitarian organisations and local officials remain on high alert as they work to protect vulnerable communities from further disasters.

Relief efforts are focused on relocating at-risk families, strengthening temporary shelters and ensuring access to medical care for those injured in the landslides. The Rohingya refugee crisis began in 2017 when hundreds of thousands of people fled violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State. Since then, Bangladesh has hosted more than a million refugees, with Cox’s Bazar becoming the world's largest refugee settlement. The recurring monsoon season continues to pose one of the greatest humanitarian challenges for camp residents, highlighting the need for improved disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure.

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