In a message, he said "Our thoughts go out to the people of Bangladesh, and particularly to those who have lost, or are missing, loved ones."

Howells said he was encouraged to hear that a number of survivors were found Monday-Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador Masayuki Inoue expressed his profound shock at the loss of lives and property in landslides in Chittagong.

In a message to Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, he prayed for salvation of the departed souls and also conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to members of the bereaved family as well as to the injured people in the incident.

The Ambassador also hoped that the bereaved families would soon be reconciled with their tragic losses owing to the calamity.

Staff correspondent adds: Different social and political organisations yesterday expressed deep shock at the loss of lives in landslides due to torrential rains in Chittagong.

The organisations urged the authorities to make all out efforts for the treatment and rehabilitation of the affected people.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President and former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and General Secretary Major (retd) Abdul Mannan in a joint statement urged the rich to extend their helping hand for the affected people.

Communist Party of Bangladesh General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim in a statement blamed indiscriminate hill cutting and deforestation over the years for this landslide.

In a separate statement Karmojibi Nari President Shirin Akhter and General Secretary Sharmin Kabir urged the authorities to initiate precautionary measures in apprehension of flood across the country.

Bangladesh Jatiya Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh Manobadhikar Samannaya Parishad, Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee, Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh and Forum for the Silent Majority also expressed deep shock and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved families.