Terrible April 29 Cyclone : Demand to declare April 29 as "Coastal Protection Day"
Badal Roy Shadin, Sandwip (Chittagong)
Sandwip Odhikar Andolon has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Adviser through the local UNO in Sandwip, Chittagong, demanding the declaration of April 29 as Coastal Protection Day.
On behalf of the social organization, President Md. Hasanuzzaman Sandwipi mentioned in his memorandum that on April 29, 1991, a terrible cyclone and tidal wave 'Mary Ann' swept through the coast of greater Chittagong. The cyclone and tidal wave, which struck at midnight that day, submerged Anwara, Banshkhali, Sitakunda, Mirsarai, Sandwip in Chittagong and 13 upazilas of the coast including Maheshkhali, Kutubdia, Cox's Bazar Sadar, Chakaria and Pekua in Cox's Bazar and other coastal areas. The 20/30 feet high tidal wave caused by this caused an estimated 1,38,242 people to die and about 10 million people to be homeless that day, according to official estimates. 2 million cattle died. More than 5,000 crores of property was damaged.
The memorandum quoted Sai Ravela, chief researcher of the Department of Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, as saying, "Bangladesh is very active in dealing with climate risks. However, their preparations are based on the current weather conditions. What we are seeing is that the recurrence of such devastating tidal waves is now about ten times more. There is no room for ignoring this. The memorandum claims that if the day is celebrated on a national basis, the countrymen will know the stories of the miserable lives of the coastal people and the state will strive to improve the lives of the coastal people.
Retired teacher Abul Kashem Shilpi, President of Sandwip Adhikar Andolan Md. Hasanuzzaman Sandwipi, Sandwip Upazila BNP member Asif Akhter, General Secretary of Sandwip Upazila Sramik Dal Nasir Uddin Babul, journalists Ilias Sumon, Abdul Hamid, Nowshad Akram, Finance Secretary of Sandwip Adhikar Andolan Central Committee Nazrul Islam and other individuals were present.
