29/04/2025
April 29: A Day of Coastal Dread Lingers for Maheshkhali
Report- Fuad Mohammad Shobuj
April 29 marks 34 years since one of the deadliest cyclones in Bangladesh’s history ravaged the coastal belt. The 1991 storm, with winds reaching up to 250 km/h and tidal surges of 15–20 feet, devastated Maheshkhali upazila. In just hours, thousands of lives were lost, and the entire landscape was left in ruins. An estimated 10,000 people perished in Maheshkhali alone. Survivors recall that dreadful night with tears, as their homes, families, and livelihoods were washed away. Villages like Dhalghata, Matarbari, and Kutubjom turned into ghost towns overnight. That traumatic night still haunts the people of Maheshkhali, who battle seasonal disasters to this day.
Today, Maheshkhali is home to nearly 400,000 people, yet it remains grossly unprepared for natural disasters. The number of cyclone shelters is insufficient, and the embankments meant to protect the coast are in dire condition. According to the Water Development Board, 60% of the 543 km of embankments in Cox’s Bazar are severely damaged. Maheshkhali alone has at least 65 km of embankments that are either broken or extremely vulnerable. In Dhalghata, Matarbari, and Kutubjom, the lack of sustainable embankments poses a grave threat to coastal resilience.
Though some embankments were built or repaired after the 1991 cyclone, most structures lacked durability. Many, like the one in Polder 70, are now eroding or crumbling. During the monsoon and full moon tides, these areas regularly face inundation. The Water Development Board has proposed three projects for sustainable embankment construction. One, worth Tk 2.2 billion, is awaiting ECNEC approval. If approved, it may offer long-term protection against recurring disasters.
The nearby Kutubdia Island faces an even more precarious situation. In the 1991 cyclone, nearly 40% of the island was submerged by the sea. Today, four out of six unions are regularly flooded by tidal surges. In areas like Dakshin Dhurung, Baraghop, and Ali Akbar Dale, the embankments are either broken or non-existent, allowing seawater to encroach on homes and farmland. Locals try to erect barriers using bamboo and mud, but these are easily destroyed by even mild waves.
Abdul Karim, a longtime resident of Dhalghata Union, said, “Since childhood, I’ve seen our suffering begin with every monsoon. A bit of rain and the embankments collapse, flooding our homes. Furniture and food float away. Every monsoon is a battle for survival. Climate change has only worsened it.” He added that the proposed 'super d**e' project could finally bring some relief if implemented. “Otherwise, we will face the same suffering every year. We want the government to act before it’s too late for our future generations.”
Runa Akter of Matarbari Union echoed the fear. “Every time it rains or the tide rises, it feels like we’re holding our lives in our hands. Children and the elderly are most vulnerable. The pain is unending. Without a permanent and strong embankment, there is no peace in Maheshkhali. We urge the authorities to approve and implement the super d**e project soon, so we can live safely, and our children can sleep without fear.”
Residents have been consistently demanding resilient embankments. Nurul Islam from Dhalghata said, “Each monsoon feels like walking with death.” Elderly Soltan Ahmed added with tears, “We are fighting the sea just to survive. We hear promises, but they’re never fulfilled. Thousands of families live in constant fear due to lack of protection. Another major cyclone could bring catastrophe.”
Abdul Mannan Bana, leader of the Dhalghata Protection Movement, stressed, “We cannot protect the coast without strong embankments, more cyclone shelters, early warning systems, and public awareness. Beyond embankments, we need mangrove plantations and alternative livelihoods. Without these, Maheshkhali and Kutubdia will remain on the brink of extinction.”
To that end, a massive project worth Tk 38 billion has been proposed to build a super d**e in Dhalghata and Matarbari. Sub-Divisional Engineer of the Water Development Board, Md. Jamal Murshid, said the project is awaiting final approval and may be greenlit by 2026. Full implementation is expected by 2029, potentially transforming Maheshkhali’s disaster resilience.
He noted that the last major embankment works were carried out in Dhalghata and Matarbari during the 2018–2020 fiscal years. These two unions now have 32 km of embankments, of which 6.5 km are highly vulnerable. About 7.5 km fall under the Roads and Highways Department, while 18 km remain in a moderately risky condition. “Maheshkhali is disaster-prone,” he emphasized. “Without sustainable embankments, the lives and assets of coastal people cannot be protected. Once implemented, the super d**e will ensure long-term safety and open doors to livelihood security.”
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