Incessant rainfall-triggered floods and landslides have so far claimed 30 lives-19 in Cox’s Bazar, five in Chittagong, five in Bandarban and one in Rangamati- said Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu told parliament on Thursday.

He said the government is giving the highest priority to ensuring the safety of people affected by floods and landslides in Chittagong and the Chittagong Hill Tracts alongside providing emergency relief assistance.

Delivering his statement under Rule 300 of the Rules of Procedure in the National Parliament, the minister said the government is working on a war footing to protect affected people and meet their immediate humanitarian needs.

To accommodate displaced people, the government has opened 1,057 shelters – 41 in Chittagong, 640 in Cox’s Bazar, 21 in Rangamati, 135 in Khagrachhari and 220 in Bandarban, he said.

The minister said 8,340 people have taken shelter in Chittagong, while 126 are staying in shelters in Rangamati, 1,755 in Khagrachhari and 2,173 in Bandarban.

Dulu said the government initially allocated Tk10 lakh in cash under the Gratuitous Relief (GR) programme and 200 tons of rice to each of the five affected districts on Tuesday.

To strengthen the ongoing response, additional allocations were approved on Thursday, he added.

Chittagong received Tk25 lakh, Cox’s Bazar Tk20 lakh, while Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban each received Tk10 lakh, the minister said.

The government also allocated an additional 300 tons of rice for Chittagong, 250 tons for Cox’s Bazar and 200 tons each for Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban.

The minister said public announcements through loudspeakers are continuing to encourage residents of vulnerable areas to move to safer locations.

He said shelters have been equipped with safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, baby food and arrangements for three meals a day for displaced people.

Dulu also said the prime minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund has allocated Tk2 million for each of the affected districts.

“The prime minister is closely monitoring the situation and providing necessary directives. More emergency assistance will be allocated if required,” he added.

Highlighting the recurring loss of lives from landslides, the minister said the government is prepared to rehabilitate families living on vulnerable hill slopes by constructing houses on khas land and other government land.

He urged local lawmakers to actively raise public awareness and support the relocation initiative, expressing hope that coordinated efforts would significantly reduce future casualties from landslides.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin told Parliament that 1,300 tons of rice have been distributed in the three hill districts on Wednesday.