Bangladesh: A role model in cyclone management in protecting people from disasters

Due to climate change, disasters have increased around the world, including in Bangladesh, but Bangladesh has become a role model in protecting people from disasters. Bangladesh can claim that this cyclone, Mocha, did not cause any loss of life. Cyclone Mocha took the form of a super cyclone, but its destructive form was not seen in Bangladesh. Houses in some areas, including Cox's Bazar and St. Martin, have suffered extensive damage.

But there was no loss of life. Only one person was reported injured on the island of St. Martin. However, it is true that the people of St. Martin, Teknaf, and Shah Pari islands have faced huge economic losses. Especially the houses of the poor and the lower class have been completely destroyed in this cyclone. In all, 3,34,000 people were affected by the storm.

However, there was no loss of life in the overall operation of the government. Almost everyone in the population who could be harmed by a blow to the face was removed. Even in emergency situations, cyclone shelters had good food, medicine, and sanitation facilities. From this, it can be seen that, since the liberation war, Bangladesh has become more efficient in disaster management step by step. It has been possible to develop modern disaster management in the vast coastal areas of Bangladesh. This year's Mocha face-off and his preparations give us proof of that. In contrast, the developed countries of the world have seen their management collapse when dealing with cyclones.

In this context, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr. Enamur Rahman said, "We are successful in dealing with cyclone Mocha." This is the first time that there has been no loss of life in dealing with the storm. That means the government's preparation was very good. Now everyone has gone back to their homes. The process of rehabilitation for those whose houses have been damaged has started. The state minister said, "Bangladesh is a disaster-prone region. As a result, our preparation has set an example for the world. Bangladesh is becoming a role model for the world in dealing with disasters. Severe atmospheric disturbances that occur in the rest of the world's tropical oceans, except for the South Atlantic and Southeast Pacific, are commonly known as cyclones. An average of 80 tropical cyclones occur around the world every year. Bangladesh's unique geographical location brings with it monsoons as well as devastating cyclones, monsoons, tornadoes, and floods. The Bay of Bengal is an ideal area for tropical cyclone formation. Cyclones cause maximum damage when they hit Bangladesh and West Bengal in India. The reasons behind this are extensive low-lying land, high population density, and poor infrastructure for houses. Most of the damage was done in the coastal areas of Khulna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Noakhali, and Chittagong and on the offshore islands such as Bhola, Hatia, Sandwip, Manpura, Kutubdia, Maheshkhali, Nijhum Dwip, Uridchar, and newly emerged islands.

Cyclone data shows that between 1981 and 1985, 174 cyclones with speeds of more than 54 km/h formed in the Bay of Bengal. Among them, one in January, one in February, one in March, nine in April, 32 in May, six in June, eight in July, four in August, 14 in September, 31 in October, 47 in November, and 20 in December. This data suggests that severe cyclones occurred mainly in the pre-monsoon (April–May) and post-monsoon (September–November) seasons and were the most destructive.

Bangladesh has experienced 53 major cyclones in the last few hundred years. The two major cyclones that hit in 1997 and 2007 had speeds of 225 and 200 kilometers per hour, but total deaths were 126 and 3,406, respectively. According to the Meteorological Department, there have been five to six major cyclones in the country in the last 10 years. 2.6 lakh people were affected when Amphan hit in 2020; 26 people died in it. Due to the improvement of disaster management and awareness, the loss of life and property has decreased. The most powerful of these was 'Mora'. On May 30, 2017, severe cyclone 'Mora' hit. Its speed was 146 kilometers per hour. Earlier, on May 21, 2016, Cyclone 'Roanu' hit. Its speed was 128 km/h. On May 16, 2013, Mahasen arrived at a speed of 100 kmph. And on July 30, 2015, came Kamen. Its speed was 65 km/h. And on May 25, 2009, Aila struck. Its speed was 100 to 120 kilometres per hour.

On the night of November 15, 2007, Cyclone Sidr hit with 10 to 12 feet of high tide and a 260 km/h wind speed. 2,217 people lost their lives in the storm. 68,379 houses were washed away due to the pressure of the water. Crops on 37 thousand 64 acres of land were destroyed by water. On May 25, 2009, Cyclone 'Aila' hit southwestern Bangladesh and southeastern India. The storm had a diameter of about 300 km, 50 km larger than Cyclone Sidr. Like Sidr, Aila takes about 10 hours to cross the coast. 193 people died and 7,000 were injured in the storm. 2 lakh cattle died.

The cyclone that hit Bakerganj and Patuakhali districts in 1584 lasted for five hours. Everything except the temple on high ground was submerged. About two million people lost their lives during that time. Among the recent ones are Gorky in 1970 and Marian in 1991. The death toll in these two storms was high. On November 13, 1970, Gorky struck the southern part of Bangladesh. However, Gorky in 1970 was the most severe of the cyclones so far. About 500,000 people lost their lives due to the storm. Most of them drowned in the flood. The intensity of the storm was 'Category 3'. The cyclone had a maximum wind speed of about 222 kilometers per hour and a maximum tidal height of about 30 feet. Tajumuddin Upazila was the most affected by the storm. Out of the 1 lakh, 67 thousand inhabitants there, about 77 thousand lost their lives. The cyclone that hit Bangladesh on November 29, 1988, is one of the most destructive cyclones in history. The flood situation caused by this storm in the country is known as one of the worst floods in Bangladesh's history. As a result of the terrible cyclone, the coastal areas of Bangladesh and West Bengal suffered extensive damage. About 5,708 people lost their lives due to the cyclone. About 70 per cent of Bangladesh's crops were destroyed in the storm. Its amount was about 2,20,000 tons.

Hurricane Marian has a terrible death toll. On April 29, 1991, it hit the coastal region of the southeastern Chittagong Division of Bangladesh with a speed of about 250 km/h. The cyclone inundated coastal areas with 20-foot-high tides. As a result, about 1, 38, 000 people lost their lives. About 1 crore people lost everything. The level of the storm was "Category 5." 1 crore people became homeless.

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