Tropical cyclones in Bangladesh

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Bangladesh, due to its unique geographic location, suffers from devastating tropical cyclones frequently. The funnel-shaped northern portion of the Bay of Bengal causes tidal bores when cyclones make landfall, and thousands of people living in the coastal areas are affected. Some of the most devastating natural disasters in recorded history with high casualties were tropical cyclones that hit the region now forming Bangladesh. Among them, the 1970 Bhola cyclone alone claimed more than 500,000 lives.

1 Causes
2 Effects
3 Notable cyclones
- 3.1 1970 Bhola cyclone
- 3.2 1991 Bangladesh cyclone
4 Storm preparedness
5 Notes
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Causes

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[edit] Effects

[edit] Notable cyclones

[edit] 1970 Bhola cyclone

Main article: 1970 Bhola cyclone

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[edit] 1991 Bangladesh cyclone

Main article: 1991 Bangladesh cyclone

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[edit] Storm preparedness

Bangladesh lacks any weather satellites of its own. The three satellite ground stations, located in Betbunia, Talibabad, and Mohakhali, are used to receive feeds from other satellites. Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation (SPARRSO), a Government agency under the ministry of defence ^[1], provides storm predictions and early warnings using feeds from NASA and NOAA's satellites. The warnings are usually given in a scale of 10, with the number 10th being given for the deadliest storms.

A detailed programme for storm prevention has been taken by the Government following the cyclone of 1991. A Comprehensive Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) is jointly planned, operated, and managed by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, and a volunteer force of more than 32,000 are trained to help in warning and evacuation in the coastal areas^[2]. Around 2,500 cyclone shelters have been constructed in the coastal regions. The shelters are built on elevated platforms, and serve the dual role of schools or community centers during normal weather. In Patenga, Chittagong, the coast has been heavily protected with concrte levees. Also, an afforestation has been initiated in the coastal regions to create a green belt.