Published on 02:56 PM, June 17, 2017

Double blow for Longadu arson victim

People, including children, take shelter at BTV's Rangamati substation as they are left homeless by a devastating mudslide that hit the hill district on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. Photo: Prabir Das

He has lost all that he had in a matter of days.

Bikram Chakma, 50, was barely managing to survive along with his family members in Udondi Adam Para of Rangamati after his house in Longadu upazila was burnt to ashes by Bangali settlers on June 2.

The final blow came when the landslide that killed at least 112 people in Rangamati also destroyed the Udondi Adam Para house, alongside around a hundred others last week.

READ MORE: Rangamati in food, fuel crisis

Now, he and his family members are staying at a shelter centre in the same area with their future now looking uncertain and bleak.

Talking to The Daily Star, Bikram said they shifted to their house in Udondi Adam Para following the arson attack in Longadu, and could hardly believe that they would lose their last means of shelter in a matter of days.

They could barely manage a proper meal in the last couple of days as the food provided by the relief workers was not sufficient for all the victims of the shelter.

Bikram’s children-- a son and a daughter-- passed Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam this year.

Now he does not know what will happen to his family.

Bikram urged for enough relief materials for the victims and prompt action from the administration to rehabilitate them, saying they do not want to stay at the shelter for an indefinite period.

Bangalee settlers carried out the arson attack on the indigenous people in the area on June 2 after police recovered the body of a Jubo League leader.