KHAGRACHARI, 23 July 2008 (IRIN) - Illegal hill-cutting due to rampant building has left some 70,000 people at risk of landslides in 18 sub-districts of Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Bandarban hill districts, as well as the city of Chittagong, warned specialists.

Of these, 40,000 live in Khagrachhari, 20,000 in Rangamati and Bandarban, and 10,000 in Chittagong, the country's industrial centre, according to Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, a forum of citizens and organisations working on the environment.