The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shaikh Abdul Jalil, Bagerhat

Dead body of Nur Hossain Molla of Dona village in Morrelganj upazila was recovered from a paddy field. Still a piece of garment of his dearest one was in his right grip. His wife tried her best to remain alive on that terrific night - if they had to submit to death, both of them would embrace it together. But the devastating SIDR didn't allow them even to meet their end together. Who knew the strong cyclonic hit would have washed his dear wife elsewhere! Her trace could not be known as yet. Nur Hossain could neither save his dearest wife nor himself.

Like Nur Hossain, Sahadat of Rajair village also took shelter in a nearby mosque along with his nearest ones. During the havoc, 4 members of his family embraced each other, but SIDR hit the mosque on the bank of Baleswar and smashed it totally. And then the heavy tidal surge washed them away. It was only Sahadat who survived and sustained grievous wounds on his person. Now Sahadat, half-dead, has been mourning over repeated pounding on his chest.

Ruhul Amin Fakir of Bakultala village pressed his four children Rumi, Mamun, Sumi and Sumaiya against his chest on that dreadful night. But none could be saved from the dreadful end. He only survived to bear the burden of the tragic death of his dear ones. On the other hand, Rehana of Rayenda could luckily trace out two dead bodies while two others remained untraced though nine days have elapsed since then. With a hope of detecting the dead bodies she was making all out searching in the river, tributaries, baors and beels, bushes and fields. Jahangir a teen aged boy sill wondering hither and thither alone.

Mentally handicapped Mohibul Kabiraj of Southkhali village is now passing his days with none to take care of him. SIDR snatched away his mother, sister, brother, nieces and nephew. Mohibul has been passing his days without food. Nine days have passed, innumerable human beings are still in search of their nearest ones of Southkhali, Morrelganj, Rampal including other offshore islands. Huge numbers of dead bodies are still lying scattered about everywhere, floating in the rivers and beels and are spreading stinking smell in the air.

On last Friday, Shimul Ali found 16 dead bodies from a paddy field of village Mathbaria. Nazrul Islam, a college teacher found equal number of dead bodies while he was looking for his nephew's carcass. More 33 rotten dead bodies have been recovered from different places of Morrelganj and Sarankhola area. Up till now 1049 dead bodies have been collected from Bagerhat district. Exact number of missing persons could not be ascertained right now. As per information from responsible persons of Morrelganj and Sarankhola, more than two thousand people died in these two upazilas on that terrific night. 1500 persons are still now missing. According to chairman Esmail Khalifa, 'the number of deaths may be fifteen hundred. Who is there to maintain records of those fate less persons?' Sahidul Islam and Asaduzzaman Babul, president and secretary respectively of the ocean-going fishermen's association informed, near about 1500 to 1600 persons left Rampal and Mongla for fishing in the sea but are still missing; more than two hundred trawlers and boats are untraced.

According to the ex-chairman of Rampal upazila Shaikh Abdul Jalil, 'More than 1500 persons are still missing. Most of them were fishermen. All of them left for fishing in the bay.'