Bangladesh witnessed a number of deadly cyclones in the past decades that had left serious impacts on the lives and livelihoods while the latest one named “Sitrang” is approaching fast.
Cyclone Sitrang is likely to intensify further, move in a north-northeasterly direction and cross Barishal-Chattogram coast near Khepupara by midnight Monday or early morning Tuesday, said the latest Met office bulletin.
Bangladesh is annually buffeted by floods, cyclones, storm surges, river bank erosion, earthquake, drought, salinity intrusion and fire but has earned praise in dealing with those natural disasters with better preparedness in place.
Here we share some of the major cyclones that hit before and after independence of Bangladesh.
1. 1970 Bhola Cyclone in November 10: The deadliest cyclone to pound Bangladesh (the then killed 500,000 people.
2. 1985 Urirchar cyclone (May 24th-25th): Over 11,000 people perished mostly in Urirchar island off Chottogram coast.
3. 1991 Cyclone in May: It hammered the offshore Islands and Char of Patuakhali, Barishal, Chattogram and Noakhali killing over 140,000 people. Damages estimated at $1.5 billion.
4. December 1965 December Cyclone: The cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 217 km per hour struck Cox Bazaar, adjacent coastal areas and Patuakhali on 15 December; and took the lives of around 19,279 people.
5. 1963 cyclone (28-29 May): The cyclone hit Noakhali, Cox's Bazaar and offshore islands Saandeep, Kutubdiya, Maheshkhali and Hatiya. It claimed the lives of around 11,520 people and caused massive destruction of properties.
6. 1961 Cyclone: The severe cyclonic storm accompanied by tidal surges hit Bagerhat and Khulna district on 9 May 1961. Fatalities:11,468 people.
7. 1985 Cyclone ( May 24-25 May): The cyclonic storm killed about 11,000 people.
8. Cyclone Sidr (November 15), 2007: Killed more than 1,500 people, caused widespread damages
