Sidr Composition

Bangladesh, a land frequented by natural disasters, endures routine visits of cyclones and floods that strike with sudden and fatal intensity, leaving behind vast devastation. Among the devastating cyclones faced by the country, one is named Sidr, derived from the Sinhalese language, meaning "hole" or "eye" due to its eye-like appearance. Also known as Super Cyclonic Storm Sidr, it stands as the strongest named cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, boasting winds of 260 km/h. On November 15, 2007, it swept over the coastal districts of Bangladesh, bringing heavy rainfall and gusty winds to Dhaka and other parts of the country.

Cyclone Sidr mercilessly hit the highly vulnerable, low-lying, densely populated coastal areas of Bangladesh, unleashing heavy rain, winds up to 260 miles/hour, and a storm surge. Although the death toll from Sidr reached into the hundreds, it caused extensive damage to homes, crops, and livelihoods, with total damages amounting to nearly 450 million dollars.

Sidr shattered all past records in terms of storm intensity and duration, causing water levels to reach unprecedented heights. Patuakhali, Borguna, and Jhalokati districts were engulfed by a storm surge of over 5 meters, and even the capital city of Dhaka suffered severe impact, with electricity, water services, and other infrastructure being severely disrupted. The local agricultural industry was devastated, resulting in the loss of numerous crops. Tragically, thousands of people lost their lives, and many were left homeless, hungry, and without proper clothing. The cyclone also took a toll on wildlife, causing hundreds of world-famous Royal Bengal Tigers and beautiful spotted deer to meet watery graves. Approximately a quarter of the world heritage site Sunderbans suffered damage due to the cyclone, and it was estimated that the mangrove forest would take at least 40 years to recover from the catastrophe.

In the aftermath of Sidr, inhuman conditions prevailed everywhere, and the misery of the affected people knew no bounds. The extensive damage included the destruction of houses, offices, and institutions, as well as significant crop loss and the washing away of cattle herds. People sought refuge in open air, boats, and embankments. Scarcity of food and clean drinking water further exacerbated the dire situation, leading to severe health problems, including the spread of diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery, jaundice, pneumonia, cholera, skin infections, and typhoid fever.

The people in the affected areas desperately needed food, shelter, clothing, medicine, and clean drinking water. However, with combined help and assistance from various sources, the challenges posed by these inhuman conditions were addressed to the best of their capacity. Foreign governments also extended their assistance upon witnessing the plight of the Sidr-affected people.

The impact of Sidr left a deep scar on the heart of Bangladesh, highlighting the importance of preventive measures to lead a disaster-free life.