Chittagong Bureau :
The horrors and horrifying memories and frightful moments of the devastating cyclonic storm and tidal surge of April 29, 1991 was recalled on Friday.
Different socio-cultural and political organizations in Chittagong arranged a day-long programmes remembering the trail of destruction and loss of lives and property in the south-eastern part of the country caused by the devastating cyclone on the fateful night.
People of greater Chittagong region, particularly the country’s entire coastal belts are still being haunted by the frightening memories as they lost their near and dear ones in the cyclone.
The organizations which arranged separate discussion meetings to remember the day are Upakulio Unnyan Foundation, Sandwip Association, NGO Jote, Coast Trust Association, Patenga Anti-Social Resistance Committee, World Vision Bangladesh, YPSA Chittagong City, Jattri Kolyan Samity.
Special prayers for the deceased, feeding the destitute, holding of milad, remembrance meeting, photo exhibition, lighting of candles in memory of those who were killed were the highlights of the day’s programmes.
Nearly 2 lakh people of the coastal upazilas, mostly from Banskhali, Anwara, Chakaria, Sandwip and Kutubdia died and millions of people were rendered homeless on this day in 1991.
Chittagong Mohhanagar Awami League organized a discussion meeting and special prayer at Darul Fazal Market, remembering the day with its President A B M Mohiuddin Chowdhury in the chair. Upokulio Unnyon Foundation, also organized a discussion meeting in the city.
Amra Sandwipbasi, NGO Jote and Coast Trust organised separate condolence rallies in front of Chittagong Press Club.
Speakers at different memorial meetings urged the authorities concerned to take special measures to protect the coastal belt and arrange massive tree plantation at the coastal belt, reconstruction of embankments and cyclone centres in different coastal areas in the region to save millions of unprotected coastal people from the natural disasters like cyclone, tsunami and tidal surge.
The speakers also called for formulating pre and post-disaster management systems, awareness creation programmes, especially in dealing with natural calamities to minimize the loss of lives and property.
Cox’s Bazar Correspondent adds: The people of coastal areas of the country, who lost their near and dear ones in the April 29 devastating cyclone in 1991, remembered the day through mourning and seeking divine grace for the departed souls.
In this connection, the Cox’s Bazar district administration and different cultural organisations chalked out day-long programmes on Friday. Besides, munajat was offered in different mosques across the district.
On April 29, 1991, the devastating cyclone ravaged the vast coastal areas of Bangladesh along with 12 to 20 feet high tidal bore and killed around 1,38,000 inhabitants. The total damage in the catastrophe was estimated at about Tk 5,000 crore.
Though 25 years have passed since the cyclone, still there is not enough cyclone shelters in the district, said sources at district Relief and Rehabilitation Centre.
Besides, different embankments, which got damaged during the cyclone of 1991, still need repairing to ensure people’s safety from further natural calamities.
In this connection, Member of Parliament from Kutubdia-Moheshkhali constituency Ashek Ullah Rafiq said the government has a plan to build embankment in the coastal areas. He assured that the damaged embankments would be repaired before the start of the upcoming rainy season.
The horrors and horrifying memories and frightful moments of the devastating cyclonic storm and tidal surge of April 29, 1991 was recalled on Friday.
Different socio-cultural and political organizations in Chittagong arranged a day-long programmes remembering the trail of destruction and loss of lives and property in the south-eastern part of the country caused by the devastating cyclone on the fateful night.
People of greater Chittagong region, particularly the country’s entire coastal belts are still being haunted by the frightening memories as they lost their near and dear ones in the cyclone.
The organizations which arranged separate discussion meetings to remember the day are Upakulio Unnyan Foundation, Sandwip Association, NGO Jote, Coast Trust Association, Patenga Anti-Social Resistance Committee, World Vision Bangladesh, YPSA Chittagong City, Jattri Kolyan Samity.
Special prayers for the deceased, feeding the destitute, holding of milad, remembrance meeting, photo exhibition, lighting of candles in memory of those who were killed were the highlights of the day’s programmes.
Nearly 2 lakh people of the coastal upazilas, mostly from Banskhali, Anwara, Chakaria, Sandwip and Kutubdia died and millions of people were rendered homeless on this day in 1991.
Chittagong Mohhanagar Awami League organized a discussion meeting and special prayer at Darul Fazal Market, remembering the day with its President A B M Mohiuddin Chowdhury in the chair. Upokulio Unnyon Foundation, also organized a discussion meeting in the city.
Amra Sandwipbasi, NGO Jote and Coast Trust organised separate condolence rallies in front of Chittagong Press Club.
Speakers at different memorial meetings urged the authorities concerned to take special measures to protect the coastal belt and arrange massive tree plantation at the coastal belt, reconstruction of embankments and cyclone centres in different coastal areas in the region to save millions of unprotected coastal people from the natural disasters like cyclone, tsunami and tidal surge.
The speakers also called for formulating pre and post-disaster management systems, awareness creation programmes, especially in dealing with natural calamities to minimize the loss of lives and property.
Cox’s Bazar Correspondent adds: The people of coastal areas of the country, who lost their near and dear ones in the April 29 devastating cyclone in 1991, remembered the day through mourning and seeking divine grace for the departed souls.
In this connection, the Cox’s Bazar district administration and different cultural organisations chalked out day-long programmes on Friday. Besides, munajat was offered in different mosques across the district.
On April 29, 1991, the devastating cyclone ravaged the vast coastal areas of Bangladesh along with 12 to 20 feet high tidal bore and killed around 1,38,000 inhabitants. The total damage in the catastrophe was estimated at about Tk 5,000 crore.
Though 25 years have passed since the cyclone, still there is not enough cyclone shelters in the district, said sources at district Relief and Rehabilitation Centre.
Besides, different embankments, which got damaged during the cyclone of 1991, still need repairing to ensure people’s safety from further natural calamities.
In this connection, Member of Parliament from Kutubdia-Moheshkhali constituency Ashek Ullah Rafiq said the government has a plan to build embankment in the coastal areas. He assured that the damaged embankments would be repaired before the start of the upcoming rainy season.
