Deadly Landslides Strike Bangladesh Rohingya Camps as Monsoon Rains Trigger Tragedy

At least nine people, including eight Rohingya refugees, have been killed after heavy monsoon rains triggered landslides across refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, southeastern Bangladesh. The disaster struck multiple locations as hillsides collapsed, burying shelters and leaving families devastated during one of the region’s most dangerous weather periods.

The landslides occurred at four separate locations in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camps between late Sunday and early Monday morning, when many residents were asleep. Rescue teams rushed to search through mud and debris, recovering several bodies from the damaged shelters. Local officials said seven bodies were recovered by rescuers, while another was found by fellow refugees. A Bangladeshi man was also killed when a hillside collapsed onto his home.

The tragedy has deeply affected the Rohingya community, many of whom have already endured years of displacement and hardship. Ali Ahmed, a Rohingya refugee living in the camps, said his parents and younger brother were killed when their shelter was buried during the landslide. He described the loss as another devastating chapter after his family had fled Myanmar in 2017 to escape persecution.

More than one million Rohingya refugees currently live in overcrowded settlements in Cox’s Bazar after escaping a military crackdown in Myanmar. The camps, considered the world’s largest refugee settlement, are located in areas vulnerable to natural disasters. Many shelters are built from bamboo and plastic materials on steep, deforested hillsides, increasing the risk of landslides and flooding during Bangladesh’s annual monsoon season.

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, dozens of refugees have died in landslide-related incidents in recent years. The repeated disasters highlight the ongoing dangers faced by displaced communities living in fragile conditions with limited access to safer housing.

Following the latest incident, authorities have relocated around 1,000 refugees from areas considered highly vulnerable to landslides. Officials are also preparing to move thousands more residents away from dangerous slopes as forecasts warn of additional heavy rainfall in the coming days.

Emergency teams, aid organizations, and local authorities are continuing relief operations while assessing the damage caused by the landslides. Humanitarian groups have warned that worsening weather conditions could create further risks for vulnerable communities across the camps.

The disaster has renewed concerns over the safety and living conditions of Rohingya refugees, with humanitarian agencies calling for stronger protection measures, improved infrastructure, and long-term solutions to reduce the impact of recurring monsoon-related emergencies.