11 students die in landslide on Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar, 13 fishermen missing after trawler sinks in Bay of Bengal

POBNEWS24, Dhaka, July 8, 2026 : Three separate fishing trawlers sank in the Patuakhali area while fishing amid the hostile weather conditions of the Cox’s Bazar landslide and the rough Bay of Bengal, resulting in gale force winds, heavy rains and rough waves. At least 13 fishermen are still missing in these incidents. The administration is continuing rescue work everywhere as of this writing.
Five students have died in a landslide on a madrasa in a Rohingya camp in Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar. It is learnt that about 20 more people are missing in this incident. In addition, five people have been rescued alive. Rescue operations by the fire service and other relevant agencies are underway to rescue the missing.
The accident took place on Wednesday afternoon at Rohingya Camp No. 5 in Ukhia. Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Mizanur Rahman confirmed the matter.
According to eyewitnesses, due to continuous heavy rains for several days, a large part of the hill collapsed and crashed into a nearby madrasa (maktab). More than 30 children were studying there at the time of the accident.
Immediately after the incident, local Rohingya volunteers, Armed Police Battalion (APBN), fire service and members of various humanitarian organizations launched a rescue operation. The victims are being rescued by removing the rubble.
As the rescue operation is still ongoing, the concerned people fear that the number of dead, injured and missing may change.
Meanwhile, the risk of floods and landslides has increased in Cox’s Bazar district due to continuous heavy rains for several days. According to local sources, public life is being disrupted due to waterlogging and landslides in different areas of the district.
On the other hand, the low pressure and monsoon winds in the Bay of Bengal adjacent to the Kuakata coast of Patuakhali have been causing adverse weather for the past few days. Three separate fishing trawlers have capsized while fishing amid gusty winds, heavy rains and rough waves. At least 13 fishermen are missing in these incidents so far.
Raju Ahmed Raja, acting president of the Mahipur Fisheries Owners Association, confirmed the matter on Wednesday. In addition, at least five more fishing trawlers have been partially damaged due to the adverse weather.
He said that around 1 pm on Wednesday, a small trawler carrying six fishermen was caught in rough waves and capsized while fishing in the Bay of Bengal adjacent to Char Bijoy. Although the owner of the trawler, Masud Majhi, was rescued alive, no trace of the five fishermen has been found yet.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday afternoon, at around 5 pm, a fishing trawler named FB Mahima from the Fakirhat area sank while fishing at a depth of about 17 kilometers in the Bay of Bengal. Upon receiving the news, fishermen from another trawler nearby launched rescue operations and rescued 16 people alive by Wednesday afternoon. However, two fishermen are still missing.
Earlier, last Sunday, another fishing trawler owned by Imadul of Kharida village in Galachipa upazila sank at a depth of about 60 kilometers in the Bay of Bengal. There were 11 fishermen on the trawler. Five of them were rescued alive, but the remaining six are still missing.
Local fishermen said that the sea has been very rough for the past few days. Due to sudden gusts of wind and huge waves, fishing trawlers in the deep sea are at extreme risk. The nets and engines of many trawlers have also been damaged. Rescue work is also being hampered due to adverse weather conditions.
There is extreme anxiety and worry among the relatives of the missing fishermen. Family members are waiting in various areas including Kuakata, Mahipur, Fakirhat and Galachipa. Many are breaking down in tears at the pier hoping for the return of their loved ones.
Local fish traders said that due to the adverse weather, many trawlers could not return to a safe haven and were in danger in the deep sea. They have appealed not to go fishing in the deep sea until the weather normalizes.
Kalapara Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Apu Saha said that the Coast Guard and other relevant agencies are conducting operations to rescue the missing fishermen. We are monitoring the situation around the clock and are in touch with the families of the fishermen. Everyone has been advised to be alert due to the adverse weather. However, various obstacles are being created in conducting the operations due to the adverse weather and rough sea.