Eight Killed As Landslide Hits Rohingya School In Bangladesh

At least seven children and a teacher were killed after a landslide triggered by heavy monsoon rains buried a Rohingya refugee camp facility in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh , officials said. The incident has renewed concerns over the vulnerability of overcrowded refugee settlements located on unstable hillsides during the rainy season.

The landslide struck Khadijatul Kubra Women’s Madrasa and Hifzkhana in Block A-3 of Rohingya Camp-5 in Ukhiya while classes were underway. Reports said a section of a nearby hill collapsed, sending mud and debris onto the bamboo-and-tarpaulin structure. More than 30 students were reportedly inside the madrasa when the disaster occurred, with rescue teams searching for survivors.

Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Mohammed Mizanur Rahman said four children died at the scene, while others succumbed to injuries after being taken to nearby hospitals. Initial reports showed varying casualty figures during rescue operations, with authorities later confirming the deaths of seven students and one teacher in several updates.

Authorities have begun relocating families living in high-risk areas as continued rainfall increases the threat of more landslides and flash floods. More than 1,000 Rohingya refugees have already been moved from vulnerable locations, though officials said some residents remain reluctant to leave their shelters.

The latest tragedy follows other rain-related incidents in Cox’s Bazar, where landslides in recent days killed several Rohingya refugees and displaced thousands. Bangladesh’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre has warned that heavy rainfall may continue for several more days.

More than 1.2 million Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar’s Rakhine state during the 2017 military crackdown, which the United Nations described as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” Bangladesh continues to host the displaced population in one of the world’s largest refugee settlements.