Dhaka: Today marks the anniversary of November 12, 1970, the dreadful night when the catastrophic 'Bhola Cyclone', one of the deadliest storms in the country's history, ravaged Bangladesh's coastal belt, leaving behind an indelible scar of loss and resilience. On that date, the cyclone, also known as the 'Gorky Cyclone', turned into a massive storm surge that swept away everything in its path.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the greatest loss of life occurred in the island district of Bhola, 48.01 kilometers away from Barisal town, and the coastal areas of Noakhali, including Ramgati, Hatiya, and Sandwip, as well as parts of Patuakhali. The ferocious wind, violent currents, and lightning from black clouds devastated Bhola and nearby coastal districts, leading to the loss of around one million lives across the coast, with more than one lakh from Bhola alone.
The mighty rivers - the Meghna, Tentulia, and Kalabador - were filled with the bodies of storm victims, marking a tragic night remembered as a dark and heartbreaking moment in the coastal area's history. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) of the United Nations, the 'Bhola Cyclone' was one of the deadliest cyclones in world history.
Even today, coastal residents shudder when recalling the horrors of that night. Survivors still bear the emotional scars of the sudden and merciless disaster. The cyclone, which struck the then-East Pakistan's southern region, remains the most catastrophic natural disaster ever recorded. Official reports estimated 500,000 deaths, while unofficial counts suggest the number exceeded one million.
It was the sixth and strongest cyclone of the 1970 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, classified as a Category-3 storm on the Simpson Scale. Storm surges 15-25 feet high flooded and obliterated entire coastal areas and islands. Those who survived or lost loved ones can still feel the pain of that night.
Recalling the event, M. Abu Taher, a centenarian journalist and editor of weekly Dwikontho of Bhola, described the dreadful scenes he witnessed. In Daulatkhan's Chowkighat, he saw snakes and humans tangled together, a mother dead on the Meghna's bank with her child still in her arms. Bodies were wrapped in banana leaves or sackcloth for burial, sometimes many buried in a single grave.
Md. Kamal Uddin, a centenarian politician and former Manpura Upazila Chairman, recalled seeing countless bodies scattered across paddy fields with their faces covered with saltwater. Journalist Zahidul Islam, a member of the Bhola Press Club, shared the personal loss of his mother and family to the storm surge.
The cyclone formed as a low-pressure area over the southeastern Bay of Bengal on November 8, 1970. It intensified into a severe cyclone by November 11, with winds reaching 185-240 km/h. On November 12 evening, it struck Bhola, Patuakhali, Barishal, and Chattogram, with wind speeds around 185-224 km/h. The storm surge, reaching over 30 feet high, engulfed entire villages and fields overnight, leaving residents with no chance to flee.
Survivors floated in freezing water for hours, wounded and hungry. By dawn on November 13, the cyclone weakened after crossing land, leaving behind an unimaginable trail of death and destruction - one of the worst natural disasters in global history.
Following the disaster, Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani visited Bhola with government officials to witness the devastation and appealed to international donor agencies for humanitarian assistance. The World Meteorological Organization later confirmed that the 1970 Bhola Cyclone remains the deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded, with sustained winds of 185 km/h during landfall.
Marking the anniversary of the devastating cyclone, doa mahfil and discussions were held across Bhola today. Various voluntary and youth organizations arranged commemorative programs and discussions on cyclone preparedness. A special remembrance event and discussion was held at Bhola Press Club this morning, with Bhola District BNP convener Golam Nabi Alamgir as the chief guest.