Housewife killed as landslide strikes kitchen in Cox's Bazar

A housewife was killed after a hillside collapsed onto her kitchen during heavy rain in Cox's Bazar's Jhilongja, adding to the growing death toll from monsoon-triggered landslides across the country.

The incident took place around 10:30pm on Saturday (July 11) in Jhirjhiri Para of East Kolatoli, Ward No. 1, Jhilongja Union under Cox's Bazar Sadar upazila.

The victim was identified as Rozina Akter, wife of Abdul Mujib and daughter of Sultan Ahmed.

According to family members, Rozina was preparing dinner when a section of the adjacent hill suddenly gave way, sending a mass of soil crashing onto the kitchen. She was trapped beneath the debris.

Hearing the family's cries for help, local residents rushed to the scene and began rescue efforts. Fire Service personnel later joined the operation and recovered Rozina after nearly an hour. She was taken to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

The victim's family said that years of illegal hill cutting had weakened the slope, making it vulnerable to collapse during continuous rainfall. Rozina's brother claimed the family had lived in the area for nearly five decades and demanded a thorough investigation and legal action against those responsible.

Local residents echoed the allegation, saying indiscriminate hill cutting had left the hillside unstable. They warned that despite recurring monsoon disasters, illegal excavation continues in many parts of Cox's Bazar, increasing the risk of fatal landslides every rainy season.

Confirming the incident, Cox's Bazar Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Mohammad Ali said authorities have launched an investigation and that legal action will be taken based on its findings.