Natural Calamities in Bangladesh Or Natural Disasters in Bangladesh
Introduction: Man is a part of nature.
He survives in nature using natural resources. The bounty of nature keeps us
alive. But sometimes nature becomes cruel. Its cruelty is expressed in the form
of natural calamities. Floods, cyclones, earthquakes, torrential rain, and drought
are some of the natural calamities that the people of Bangladesh experience almost
every year. People here work and live fishing against recurring natural
calamities.
Causes of natural calamities: Different
natural calamities have different causes. Flood is caused by heavy rainfall in
the upper region of the area. Excess rainwater overflows the rivers. The plain
land of the country becomes inundated. Intense heat caused depression in the
Bay of Bengal resulting in a severe cyclone storm that advanced rapidly and hit
offshore Islands and the mainland of Bangladesh. Indiscriminate cutting of
trees for fuel and other household purposes has made the northern part of the
country very dry. The district of this region will, if it is apprehended, turn
into desert in future. There are recurring droughts in that dry area.
Flood is almost an annual affair: Flood
visits Bangladesh almost every year. The rivers overflow the banks. Fields of
crops go underwater. The floods in 1954, 1970, 1972, 1988, and 1998 were the
most destructive and caused havoc to lives and properties. On all occasions of
flood, water reached up to the top of the houses. People took shelter on tree
tops, railway lines, and embankments in the roofs of schools, colleges madrasahs, etc. The experience of the flood of 2004 has brought the issue before the policymakers about the permanent solution to the problem. According to the government's
estimation, the overall losses to the national economy due to the flood of 2004
would be around 42000 corer which is 5% of our GDP.
Cyclone, a frequent natural disaster:
Ours is a tropical country. Its land is low. Every year cyclones and storms hit
this land in the months of April, May, October, and November. The havoc caused
by the cyclone is beyond description. Almost everything that comes within its
sweep is destroyed or carried away. On occasions, the cyclone is attended with
the tidal bore. Thousands of people are swept away by the strong current of
water of tidal bore and countless heads of cattle are killed. People who severe
calamity lose all their belongings and live a very wretched life.
Sidr: Sidr is a dangerous hurricane. The
devastating cyclone ‘Sidr’ hit the southern part of Bangladesh on the night following
Thursday, November 15, 2007. It has been described as a category 4 cyclone (deadlier
than Katarina) and had raided its onslaughts packing winds of 240 km/hr. on the
southern coast of Bangladesh. Hurricane Sidr came from the Bay of Bengal. The
cyclone left its mark of devastation affecting a population of 3.14 million
about 88,700 families in 22 districts of southern Bangladesh. The storm killed
over three thousand people, and thousands of livestock and completely destroyed crops
on 23,122 acres of land. A massive health hazard loomed large over the areas
badly hit by Sidr as an acute shortage of drinking water resulted in some
fatal diseases like diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid. After all, Sidr has brought an
extra burden to the country’s sluggish economy.
Aila:
Cyclone Aila, another tropical storm struck southern Bangladesh on May 27,
2009. After Sidr, it was the second tropical cyclone of 2009. It caused
extensive damage in the coastal regions of Bangladesh. 330 people have been
killed by Aila and at least 8208 more were missing while about a million people
become homeless. Total damages estimated to 40.7 million (USD)
Drought: It is also a natural calamity.
It generally happens in the northern part of the country. It hampers our
cultivation growth of crops and fertility of land.
Earthquake: Bangladesh lies in the
active earthquake zone. We experience the horror of mild tremors almost every
year. Though no major earthquake has yet taken place, destructive earthquakes
may occur at any moment causing unspeakable ruin and destruction.
Possible preventive measures: Preventive
measures to save our nation from these natural calamities may be of different
types. Permanent shelters in the coastal areas are to be built in sufficient
numbers. Our government has already built a number of cyclone shelters. Forecast
systems should be made more prompt and accurate. A massive afforestation programme
can save our northern region from becoming a desert. Regarding earthquakes, our
government should update its forecasting technology. Helicopters and trained rescue
teams should be deputed at all district headquarters.
Conclusion: We the people of Bangladesh
live fighting against all kinds of disasters and calamities. But we cannot do much
against natural calamities we can only make up the loss when the intensity of
the disaster is over. However, we the people of Bangladesh are bold enough to
rise to the occasion and put up united resistance against all natural and manmade.
