Members of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) have intensified rescue, evacuation and relief operations across Cox's Bazar as continuous heavy rainfall, flooding and the threat of landslides affect several parts of the district.
Working in coordination with the local administration, Ansar-VDP personnel have been evacuating residents from high-risk areas to safe shelters, rescuing stranded people, conducting public awareness campaigns through loudspeaker announcements, helping keep communication routes open and providing assistance to affected families.
In Ukhiya upazila, Palongkhali Union Team Leader Saiful Islam has been actively raising awareness among residents of Balukhali and Palongkhali who are at risk of landslides. He has also been collecting information from flood-prone areas and sharing it with the authorities to support disaster response efforts.
In Chaufaldandi Union of Cox's Bazar Sadar upazila, VDP members led by Union Ansar Commander Md. Nurul Amin used loudspeaker announcements to warn flood-affected residents and encourage them to move to designated shelters. Volunteers also assisted in rescuing stranded people and providing emergency support.
In Pekua upazila, members under the leadership of Union Team Leader Md. Shafiul Azam visited households and carried out awareness campaigns urging residents to seek shelter in safer locations. Upazila Women Ansar Platoon Commander Sufaida Yasmin conducted awareness activities in landslide-prone areas of Silkhali Union, while Ansar Commander and Team Leader Hamida Begum of Toitong Union and Team Leader Hasina Begum of Barbakia Union also helped evacuate and assist vulnerable residents.
In Chakaria upazila, Ansar Company Commander Moktar Ahmad, Team Leader Taslima Jannat, Team Leader Nurul Absar, Union Ansar Commander Md. Shaha Jahan and other Ansar and VDP members evacuated people from flood- and landslide-prone areas, rescued stranded residents by boat, removed fallen trees and debris from roads to restore communication, relocated affected families to safer places and carried out other emergency response activities. Their humanitarian efforts have been widely appreciated by local residents.
In Maheshkhali upazila, volunteers led by Union Team Leaders Md. Alamgir and Md. Jasim Uddin and Ward Team Leader Nur Mohammad helped move residents and livestock from flooded and hilly areas to safer locations. They also assisted in rehabilitating storm-damaged homes, clearing roads blocked by fallen trees, conducting public awareness campaigns and supporting the upazila administration's emergency response efforts.
The Bangladesh Ansar and VDP said it remains committed to carrying out its humanitarian responsibilities during natural disasters. The ongoing operations in Cox's Bazar highlight the force's role not only in maintaining law and order but also in disaster management, public awareness and protecting lives and property during emergencies.
