A large portion of the coastline in Cox's Bazar still remains unprotected nearly three decade after the tropical cyclone ‘Gorky’ with wind speed of 160 miles per hour ravaged the coastal areas of southern Bangladesh on April 29, 1991.
The ‘Gorky’ killed at least 138,000 people, left another 10 million homeless and damaged properties worth Tk 15,000 crore. The storm surge rose to unusual height of nearly 20 feet above the sea level, devastating the islands and the coastal areas.
However, the actual amount of damage by the category 5 hurricane was way above the government’s estimate, said Ata Ullah Khan, president of the Coastal Journalists Forum of Bangladesh.
No remembrance ceremony this year. Each year, local administration and socio-cultural organizations chalked out different programmes with the participation of survivors and relatives of the victims to remember those were killed by the storm. Special prayers were offered at the mosques, temples and churches seeking eternal peace to victims.
However, no programme was taken this year amid the nationwide lockdown due the growing coronavirus pandemic.Tears still roll down since every single family of the area lost more than one members on that day, said Kamru Nahar Ruby, who is a former member of the local union parsiad.
Abdullah Nayan, who was lucky enough to survive the cyclone, said his eyes still blurred when he remembered the terrible night which would haunt him forever. After many years, the coast remains unprotected, said Nayan, who resides on Kutubdia Island.
Coastal area still unprotected Nearly three decades after the cyclone, large portion of the coastal area in Cox’s Bazar. Sharif Badshah, upazila chairman of Maheshkhali upazila, said an 8-kilometer embankment has remained open in his area for the last 24 years.
The embankment in the Dhalghata area has also been open since 1991, said Joynal Abedin, president of the Dhalghata Tarun Chhatra Sangha.
Pradeep Kumar Gosmami, executive engineer of the Cox's Bazar Water Development Board, said 600 meters embankment in Cox's Bazar remains open with another 1830 meters at risk. However, work will start at 11 points soon, he added.
Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Kamal Hossain said the government has taken special initiative to protect the coast of Cox's Bazar.
Coastal people demand the construction of a permanent dam in coastal area protect themselves from the ravages of the sea in future, he added.