Writer: Marzana Chowdhury
Editor: Sohana Mubashwerena
In recent years, better forecasting and more effective evacuation planning have dramatically
reduced the death toll from such storms. Addiotionally, the cooperation of the government along with the society is essential to carry out all these measures before a life-changing disaster takes
place.
Climate change has been one of the effects of global warming for a very long time. But recently
we have come to see it with our own eyes with the Sitrang Cyclone that captured at least nine
lives in Bangladesh.
Cyclonic storm, Sitrang was a tropical cyclone that affected Bangladesh and India on 25th
October, 2022. The cyclone originated from an area of low pressure near the Bay of Bangla
offshore to Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 17th October. In Bangladesh , it hit Patuakhali,
Barisal in the early hours of 25th October.
As it was predicted to be quite an extreme natural disaster, precautions were taken to protect
the public such as evacuating people from flood prone areas. Even though precautions were
taken, the country couldn’t have prepared for the electricity and telephones being damaged
along the coastal areas.
Moreover, many people lost their lives by being crushed by overturning trees. Furthermore,
20,000 homes were lost to the cyclone by the people of Bangladesh with a million people being
left homeless. People in rural areas have lost their cattles and crops – their only source of
income.
More examples of climate change include: The Bhola cyclone, one of the world’s worst natural disasters which killed several hundreds of people in Bangladesh, the Cyclone Amphan over the
Bay of Bengal killed around 100 people while sabotaging the lives of millions.
Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid group, Bangladesh , said that, “2022 has seen climate
emergencies such as floods and droughts on a scale that has never been witnessed before.The
climate crisis is growing, and here in Bangladesh we feel its ferocity.”
“When extreme weather events like Cyclone Sitrang strike, communities are left devastated. We
urgently need access to funds that support communities living through the reality of the climate
crisis.”, was further added by Farah.
Due to the unpredictable weather circumstances, the fishermen were asked not to venture out
to the sea. To add to this, the ferry services were also canceled.