With Cyclone Bulbul currently ravaging the coastal areas of Bangladesh, it is good to know that the government had the foresight to evacuate almost 100,000 people from these low-lying areas.
As a deltaic nation, it is natural for Bangladesh to be at the frontlines of any tropical cyclone -- and given our country’s history in dealing with natural disasters, the consequences of such storms have always been nothing short of devastating.
It was only 12 years ago, for example, that Cyclone Sidr caused an estimated 10,000 casualties, while the damage done to livestock and property was as high as Tk130 crore.
Thankfully, such days are now far behind us.
Given the severity of the storm, it is good to know that authorities have suspended a nationwide school exam, cancelled the holidays of officials posted in coastal districts, and called off a traditional fair that draws tens of thousands of people in the Sundarbans.
Since we can’t avoid the very nature of our region’s weather patterns, this is the kind of foresight we need going forward in tackling weather-related emergencies.
Bangladesh’s low-lying coast, home to 30 million people, is regularly battered by powerful cyclones that leave nothing short of ruin and devastation in their wake. Which is why it is good to see the government being so pro-active with Cyclone Bulbul.
There is, however, the broader of issue climate change which cannot be ignored: Meteorologists have confirmed that cyclones will only get more and more severe as a result of greenhouse gases, and we have no option but to address the evolving challenges.
