Sidr: Port city survives a close call
All the vessels were sent to Outer Anchorage from Chittagong Port to save them from the cyclone Sidr. The photo was taken from MPB Jetty of the port.Photo: Zobaer Hossain Sikder
People of the port city have heaved a sigh of relief as the monstrous Sidr that ripped through the southern shoreline and wreaked havoc on at least 30 districts has left Chittagong untouched this time unlike the devastating cyclone of 1991. Many people who had nightmarish memories and experiences of that deadly tropical cyclone still fresh in their minds said Chittagong and its adjoining areas virtually survived a close call as Sidr on November 15 suddenly changed its predicted course of direction, leaving the lives and properties here unscathed. “The commercial capital is fortunate enough to have escaped from the wrath of Mother Nature, otherwise it could have been a different story, the impact or aftermath of which could be similar to that of 1991 or more,” they said. Now home of country's premier seaport, three export processing zones -- Chittagong Export Processing Zone (CEPZ), Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone and Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ), naval academy, marine academy, Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport, air force base, customs house, stock exchange, several industrial zones or areas, ship-breaking yard at Sitakunda, traditional business hubs at Chaktai and Khatunganj, and two fertiliser factories (Kafco and CUFL), the consequences this time in Chittagong could have been beyond belief and description had the Sidr hit the port city, said MA Salam, first vice-president of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). He said, “Apart from probable economic disaster, the scale of loss of lives would surely have been much more here than 1991 due to the density of population.” “In 1991, factories at the CEPZ was badly damaged while operations at Chittagong port and different industrial zones seriously affected by the 160-mph wind and 20-feet storm surge that also hit severely the supply of power, drinking water, gas and the telecommunications for over a month,” Salam said. Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Saifuzzaman Chowdhury said, “I can't even dare to imagine the fate and consequence the port city would have experienced if the Sidr lashed us.” “The socio-economic scenario in Chittagong between 2007 and 1991 is distinctly different because of the increased volume of economic activities, expansion of city periphery and rapid urbanisation. So, the disaster in this region this time could be double or more,” he said. Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) President Nasir Uddin Chowdhury said the commercial capital is narrowly escaped from the monster Sidr. They expressed deep sorrow at the loss of lives and properties at Barguna, Barisal, Patuakhali and other districts of southern shoreline. On the night of April 29, 1991 cyclone Gorky, deadliest tropical cyclones on record, struck greater Chittagong with winds of around 250-kmph (around 160-mph) and forced a six-meter (20 feet) storm surge, killing at least 1,45,000 people and leaving as many as one crore people homeless and destroying 10 lakh homes. The damage of property was estimated at 1.5 billion US dollar. A large number of boats and smaller ships ran aground. Bangladesh Navy and Air Force were also heavily hit. BNS Isha Khan Naval Base was flooded, with heavy damage to the ships. Most of the fighter planes of the Air Force were also damaged.
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