Photo : Collected

BARGUNA, Nov 15, 2025 (BSS) – November 15 marked the horrific day of deadly cyclone Sidr as on this day in 2007, the super cyclone struck this coastal region. 

Its devastation changed the lives of the coastal people in an instant. Along with the fierce storm, tidal surges ravaged the entire coastal belt, particularly the districts of the southwest. Homes, livestock were washed away  and countless lives were lost .

Today is the 18th anniversary of that dreadful cyclone. Even now, the coastal residents of Barguna shudder when they recall that unbearable day. The fear of Sidr still haunts them.

According to the Barguna Deputy Commissioner’s Office, 1,345 people died and 156 went missing in the district due to Sidr. A total of 30,499 cattle and 658,259 poultry perished in the storm. All of the 213,461 families in the district suffered losses more or less. As many as 77,754 families became homeless. 

Naltona Union of Barguna Sadar Upazila was the worst affected area. The embankments in this area had already been vulnerable for a year before Sidr struck. During the cyclone, tidal surge  in this area rose up to 20 feet.

After the storm subsided, dozens of bodies were found there. Even then, the area remained underwater, leaving no dry land for burial.

Later, the bodies were taken to West Gorjanbunia village beside the Barguna–Nishanbari Road, where 29 people were buried in 19 graves without funeral shroud.

Even 18 years after Sidr’s destruction, no sustainable embankments have been built along the river and sea shores of Barguna. As a result, coastal residents live in fear whenever storm warnings are issued.  

Tidal water regularly enters through broken embankments, damaging farmlands and washing away fish enclosures. 

According to the Barguna Water Development Board, the district has about 805 km of embankments under 22 polders, of which nearly 450 km are of low height and remain at high risk every year.

Recently, riverbank protection for 13 km, slope protection for 9 km, and repair work for 51 km have been completed at a cost of TK  1,577 crore.

Construction of another 50 km of sustainable embankment is ongoing.
The main demand of people living along Barguna’s riverbanks is for long-lasting embankments.

Regarding this, Executive Engineer Md. Hannan Pradhan of the Barguna Water Development Board said that several embankment construction projects in Barguna are underway, and many have already been completed.

Proposals for sustainable embankments at several risky points have been sent to the concerned authorities, he said.

He added that once these projects are implemented, local residents will be somewhat protected from tidal surges.