The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The devastations caused by super cyclone Sidr to the economy of Bangladesh on November 15 last year amounted to US$ 4.4 billion, reveals by a major survey.

The survey carried out by the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB), reveals that some 12 lakh tones of Aman crop, which accounts for 40 per cent of the country's total rice output, were totally damaged or destroyed by the cyclone Sidr.

The situation became more disappointing when Boro crop did not come up with the desired yield in March this year due to a variety of reasons like shortage of seeds, diesel, fertilizer, and power-cuts, the report said.

However, while carrying out the survey, the ICMAB did not take into account the losses to those of human casualties, the Sundarbans mangrove forest and untold sufferings and miseries of the people.

The ICMAB organised a discussion Session on "Survey Report on Devastations Caused to the Bangladesh Economy by Cyclone SIDR-2007" recently at ICMA Bhaban.

Md Nurul Hassan FCMA, former president of ICMAB, presented the findings of the survey report.In the presentation, Nurul Hassan mentioned that in the Sidr affected districts crops of some 4,10,000 hectares of land were totally destroyed.

The districts where crops were totally damaged are: Borguna-19, 000 hacters, Patuakahli 21,000ha, Bhola 20,000 ha, Jhalakathi 30,000ha, Pirojpur 20,000 ha, Barisal 31,000 ha, Bagerhat 35,000 ha, Khulna 25,000 ha, Satkhira 29,000 ha, Narail 35,000 ha, Jhenaidah 25,000 ha, Gopalgunj 15,000 ha, Madaripur 13,000 ha, Shariatpur 10,000 ha, Chandpur 11,000 ha, Faridpur 11,000 ha, Cox's Bazar 9,000 ha, Feni 8,000 ha, Narayanganj 9,000 ha, Manikganj 11,000 ha, Comilla 7,000 ha, Laksmipur 4,000 ha, Gazipur 5,000 ha, Jessore 4,000 ha and Netrokona 3,000 ha.

He said Aman crops which makes up around 40 per cent of the country's total rice production lost about 12 lakh tons. The situation became more disappointing when Boro crop did not come up with the desired yield in March of this year because of a variety of reasons like shortage of seeds, diesel, fertilizer, power-cuts etc he said and added this was one of the ways in which Cyclone Sidr proved that it was more fierce than that of 1970.

Nurul Hassan mentioned that 9.2 lakhs of homes were destroyed in the cyclone where 40,000 shelters washed away and another 6,000 educational institutions damaged in the SIDR.

About 2,800 fisheries and poultry farm in total were washed away where 50,000 shrimp enclosures were damaged, he further said.

Making a 13-point recommendations, the ICMAB said in its report that in order to recoup the losses incurred in the food gains, the relevant government agencies should provide seeds, fertilizers and irrigation facilities and appropriate quantity of diesel must be supplied along with improving the power supply situation.

Negotiations should begin immediately with China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Morocco, Jordan, Tunisia, Bulgaria, Australia and Russia to import sufficient quantity of urea, TSP, and DAP fertilizers for use in agricultural lands and also for building stock for the future use.

Reconstruction of embankments should be taken up immediately.

Some 70 per cent of the sanitary facilities have been destroyed. Sanitary facilities need to be rebuilt to prevent spread of diseases. Islamic Development Bank had earlier assured of extending their support for the rebuilding of physical infrastructure in the cyclone-hit areas. IDB need to be approached for releasing the fund, which will serve two purposes simultaneously. It will restore the infrastructure facilities as well as provide jobs for the jobless.

Out of the 32 lakhs affected by Sidr, some 15 lakhs could be accommodated in comparatively safer places not necessarily government-built shelters, or schools and colleges of pucca structures. There is need to reconstruct the kutcha construction as pucca constructions. It may be difficult for the government alone to take up such projects but international aid giving agencies may be approached for support.

Global warming is cited as a principal cause of the Sidr. Since global warming will affect poor people and will be responsible for spread of diseases, polluted water, water shortage and so on a poor country like Bangladesh need to keep alert.

Referring to the pelting rains, howling winds, violent storms, furious hurricanes, turbulent tornadoes and devastating cyclones as periodical companion Nurul Hassan said the losses due to these calamities could be reduced, both in terms of properties and lives, by building embankments, sapling anti-soil erosion trees, by building more high-rise shelters and keeping the disaster management system up to date.