At least 30 people have died due to heavy monsoon rains and landslides affecting southeastern Bangladesh since July 4, 2026, officials said on August 9 [1]. The Cox's Bazar district has borne the brunt of the disaster with 19 fatalities, including multiple deaths inside the Rohingya refugee camps that shelter about 1.2 million displaced people [1] [2] [3].
More than 193 landslides have been reported recently in the Ukhia hills region within Cox's Bazar, causing severe destruction [4]. At least 8 Rohingya, among them children and a teacher at a girls' Islamic study centre, died in separate landslides. A mosque wall collapse near a makeshift madrasa killed at least 8 Rohingya children during the heavy rains [2] [5] [6] [4]. "We have recovered eight Rohingya children in the affected area. A mosque wall close to the madrasa collapsed after heavy rains hit the camp and landslides occurred," said Dollar Tripura, station officer of Ukhia Fire Service [4].
Rescue and relief operations have been ongoing amid warnings of continued heavy rain in Cox's Bazar and the neighboring Chattogram divisions [2] [6] [4] [1]. Between July 4 and July 9, weather-related incidents in the Rohingya camps caused at least 15 fatalities, 18 injuries, and displaced over 4,300 people temporarily [1]. Authorities have relocated about 20,000 refugees from landslide-prone slopes to safer areas to reduce risk [6]. Mujibur Rahman, the Ukhiya police officer-in-charge, said: "Eight Rohingya, including women and children were killed in separate landslides in Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps early Monday due to heavy rains." [6]
Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, highlighted the vulnerability of those affected: "Some of them are seven, eight, 11 or 12 years old." [2] Ali Ahmed, a Rohingya refugee, said, "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." [3]
Bangladesh’s Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu said, "To permanently resolve this situation, vulnerable families will be rehabilitated on government land and houses will be built for them." [1]
Between 2021 and 2025, natural disasters killed up to 249 people and caused about 412 billion Bangladeshi takka ($3.3 million) in damages across Bangladesh, underscoring the country's recurring vulnerability to floods and landslides [1].
Heavy and very heavy rainfall is forecast to continue in the region, increasing risks of further flooding and landslides through the coming days, raising concerns for the precarious camps and surrounding communities [2] [6]. Authorities continue evacuation and relief efforts to prevent additional casualties [6].
