Revisiting 1970 devastating cyclone

On this day in 1970, the nature's fury claimed the lives of more than one million people, left more than two million injured and about 10 million homeless.

The severe storm and high tidal wave hit all the coastal districts, including Patuakhali, Barisal, Noakhali and Sandwip, at night, leaving a trail of devastation.

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Recalling the fateful day, Abul Kalam, 62, and Abul Kashem, 49, of Bhola, who lost their parents and relatives in that disaster, told The Daily Star that 10 to 12 feet high tidal wave swept away everything. They saved their lives by climbing coconut and palm trees.

"I thought it was Qiamat (doomsday)," said Kalam.

The catastrophe also cast a deep impact on the political landscape of the region.

Utter failure and gross negligence of the then Pakistani regime to deal with the post-cyclone situation stunned the world and reinforced the resolve of the people in the then eastern wing of Pakistan to secede from Pakistan. And in the following year Bangladesh was born.