Staff Reporter :
The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, have been protecting the people of the coastal belt from different disasters, including cyclone, for ages acting as a natural shield.
There is no exception in the case of cyclonic storm ‘Bulbul’ which lashed the coastal districts on November 10 last year.
It was because of the Sundarbans that the intensity of the cyclone as well as the extent of damages were minimised as it hit the forest first and then entered the localities losing strength.
This is going to happen in the case of super cyclone ‘Amphan’ which is set to hit Bangladesh by Wednesday evening.
Meteorologist Kawser Parvin said the cyclone lost some of its strength. “There might be lesser damages in the coastal areas because of the Sundarbans,” she said.
The Sundarbans, a rich ecosystem in the world with a biodiversity and a home to numerous plants and animals, including Royal Bengal Tiger, spreads on an area of 6,017 square kilometres. It was declared as a reserve forest in 1978.
