District Correspondent, Bhola: Today is November 12. This day in 1970 is a nightmare for the people of the coast including Bhola. On this day the strongest cyclone and tidal wave Gorki swept over the coastal district of Bhola. Whose name was 'Bhola Cyclone'. This cyclone landed the Ghota coast. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives. So in November, the survivors are still shocked.

However, the steps taken by the government after the 70's have increased the safety of the people of the coast many times, but the people concerned have been demanding a permanent security fence to protect them from the tidal wave. Meanwhile, various organizations have taken up various programs demanding to declare the day as Coastal Day.

Terrible 12 November. Fifty years ago, on this day in 1970, after a day of torrential rains, a storm with a speed of about 200 kmph and a tidal wave 10 feet high claimed the lives of millions of people. Besides, it also took away the lives of animals. Mofiza Begum is surviving in Monpura after losing 35 people including her children and close relatives in the tidal wave. The memory of losing a relative still haunts me.

According to Mofiza Begum, she was swept away by a strong current on November 12, 1970. Lets be separated from family. The only daughter in the lap left the branches of the tree to save the child. It did not save the last - lost children, floated from one area to another. Survived the floating wood. Then he got on the back of a dead cow. Thus seven days. He can attract the attention of the steamer after he survives. The speedboat from the steamer came very close to Mofizar. One comes forward to him.

Mofiza told him, “You are like my brother. I don't have any clothes on. You save me. ” After the cyclone, Mofiza lost consciousness as soon as the person named Babul, who came in the speedboat, got up in the speedboat. One more day passed in a state of unconsciousness.

When he regained consciousness, Mofiza found herself in a hospital bed. Can't understand anything. He asked the nurses on duty, "Where am I?" What happened to me? ” The nurses then told Mofiza- “You are in the hospital. Floating in the cyclone, you were trapped in the Karnafuli river. You have been brought here from there. ”

Listening to the nurse, Mofizar started to remember everything. The thorns that were pierced in different parts of the body - then you start to feel it. Pain all over the body. Mofiza is still terrified when she remembers that day.

On the night of 12 November, the catastrophic "Bhola Cyclone" ravaged the entire coastal area, including Daulatkhan, Borhanuddin, Tajumuddin, Monpura, Char Nizam, Dhalchar and Char Kukri-Mukri, in addition to the Sadar upazila of Bhola. More than 3 lakh people of Bhola lost their lives in that catastrophic ordeal. Turned into piles of human and cattle carcasses. The people of Bhola are still spending their days with those painful memories of the seventies.

Dipur Chowdhury, chairman of Hazirhat Union in Monpura, said, “Even after the cyclone 70, no sustainable embankment has been built in the coastal district. We call for complete overhaul of the embankments. ”

Sahabuddin Mia, deputy director of the Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP), said, "Lack of awareness among the 80's about the cyclone has led to massive deaths. At present, the capacity of the Bhola administration to deal with natural disasters has increased. There are also many volunteer groups. People have become very aware. ” However, if more shelters are built, the damage will be reduced, he said.

According to the Water Resources Planning Agency, the highest number of cyclones and tidal surges in the coastal areas of Bangladesh so far occurred on November 12, 1970. The official death toll is 1 lakh 60 thousand. Only in November after 1960 did Sidr, Aila hit Bhola with the last 3 cyclones like Bulbul.

Meanwhile, to commemorate the day, various social organizations in Bhola have taken up a massive program on the occasion of the proposed Coastal Day in Bhola on the occasion of the catastrophic cyclone on November 12, 1970.