Bangladesh suffers from devastating tropical cyclones frequently, due to its unique geographic location. The funnel-shaped northern portion of the Bay of Bengal amplifies the storm surge of landfalling tropical cyclones, affecting thousands of people. Some of the most devastating natural disasters in recorded history with high casualties were tropical cyclones that hit the region comprising present-day Bangladesh. Among them, the 1970 Bhola cyclone alone claimed approximately 300,000 to 500,000 lives, making it the deadliest tropical cyclone on record.

History Tropical cyclones affecting Bangladesh have killed about 1.54 million people in the Bengal region.

Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation (SPARRSO), a government agency under the Ministry of Defence provides storm predictions and early warnings using feeds from NASA and NOAA's satellites. The warnings are usually given on a scale of 10, with 10 being used for the deadliest storms.

A detailed program for storm prevention was outlined by the government following the cyclone of 1991. A Comprehensive Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) is jointly planned, operated, and managed by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society; a volunteer force of more than 32,000 are trained to help in warning and evacuation in the coastal areas. Around 2,500 cyclone shelters have been constructed in the coastal regions. The shelters are built on elevated platforms and serve the dual role of schools or community centers during normal weather. In Patenga, Chittagong, the coast has been heavily protected with concrete levees. Also, afforestation has been initiated in the coastal regions to create a green belt.

Storms Historical record Source: SMRC-No.1 – The impact of tropical cyclones on the coastal regions of SAARC countries and their influence in the region, SAARC Meteorological Research Center (SMRC),1998

SL. No.Date/YearType of DisturbanceDeathsRelevant InformationReference/Source of Information 1.1582 AD (Date and month N/A) Severe Cyclonic Storm with a core of hurricane winds ~200,000 killed Coast: The cyclone crossed the coast of Backerganj (Sarkar Bala). Loss and damage: People killed = about 200,000 killed.

The destruction was reported to have been caused by a storm wave.

According to Banglapedia, a five-hour hurricane and thunderstorm destroyed houses and boats in the coast near Bakerganj (presently in Barisal and Patuakhali). Only Hindu temples with a strong foundation were spared. Ain-i-Akbari Riyaz-Us-Salatin Bengal District Gazetteer, 24 Parganas-by L.S.S. O'Malley, ICS, 1914, published- by the Bengal SOC Dept. 2.1585 (Date and month N/A) N/A A tropical storm hit the eastern side of Bakerganj (now Barisal) near the mouth of the Meghna River estuary, causing devastation of crops. Casualty: unknown. Banglapedia 3.1699 (Date and month N/A) Severe Cyclonic Storm ~50,000 killed Coast: The cyclone crossed the Sundarbans coast Loss and damage:

Other information is not available. Daily Ittefaq, 5 May 1991. 4.1760 (Date and month N/A) Severe Cyclonic Storm Coast: The cyclone crossed the Sundarbans coast Loss and damage: N/A. The whole area was almost damaged. Other information is not available. Daily Ittefaq, 5 May 1991. 5.1765 (Date and month N/A) Severe Cyclonic Storm Coast: The cyclone crossed Chittagong coast Loss and damage: N/A. The whole area was destroyed. Other information is not available. Daily Ittefaq, 5 May 1991. 6.1767 (Date and month N/A) Severe Cyclonic Storm 30,000 Coast: The cyclone crossed Backerganj (Barisal) coast.

Surge height: 13.03 m (43 ft)

Loss and damage:

People killed: 30,000. Other information is not available. Daily Ittefaq, 5 May 1991. 7. May–June 1797 (exact date N/A) Severe Cyclonic Storm with a core of hurricane winds Coast: The cyclone crossed Chittagong coast Loss and damage: Every house in the area was destroyed. Two ships were sunk in Chittagong Port. Other information is not available. Bangladesh Meteorological Department Banglapedia 8.June 1822 (Actual date N/A) Severe Cyclonic Storm with a core of hurricane winds 50,000 Coast: The cyclone crossed the coast of Backerganj (Barisal), Sarkar Bala.

Loss and damage: People killed = 50,000.

Cattle killed = 100,000.

Storm wave swept away the collectorate records. Other information is not available. Journal of Asiatic SOC. of Bengal, Vol. 46, Part II, pp 332- by H.F. Blandford Buist's 1st catalogue Trans. Bombay Geo. Soc. Vol. XII. Appendix A. Sailors Horn Book for the law of storms. Appendix A. – by Henry Piddington. 9. 2 June 1823 Cyclonic Storm Coast: The cyclone crossed Chittagong coast

Other information is not available. Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 – by F. Henderson.10. 8 June 1824 Heavy Storm (Severe Cyclonic Storm) Coast: The cyclone crossed Chittagong coast

Other information is not available. Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 – by F. Henderson. 11. 31 October 1831 Severe Cyclonic Storm 22,000 Coast: The cyclone crossed Barisal coast (Grazed the Balasore-Orissa coast)

Surge height: 2.12–4.55 m (7–15 ft)

Loss and damage: People killed = 22,000 (along the coast of India and Bengal)

Cattle killed > 50,000

Other information is not available. Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Bengal District Gazetteer (Balasore)- by L.S.S. O'Malley, ICS 12. 3–5 June 1839 Cyclonic Storm Coast: Crossed Head Bay (Bengal coast)

Other information is not available. Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 – by F. Henderson. 13. 19–21 September 1839 Cyclonic Storm Coast: The storm passed north across Sundarbans coast between Calcutta and Barisal.

Other information is not available. Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 – by F. Henderson. 14. 11 May 1844 Cyclonic Storm (Gale) Coast: Crossed Noakhali and Chittagong coast.

Other information is not available. Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 – by F. Henderson.1847Cyclonic storm~75,000 killedVarious locations in Bengal Dipankar C. Patnaik & N. Sivagnanam (November 2007). "DISASTER VULNERABILITY OF COASTAL STATES: A Short Case Study of Orissa, India". Social Science Research Network. p. 4. SSRN 1074845. Missing or empty 15. 12–13 May 1849 Cyclonic Storm (Gale) Coast: The cyclone crossed Chittagong coast

Other information is not available. Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 – by F. Henderson. 16. 23–28 April 1850 Cyclonic Storm Formation: Formed over West Nicobars.

Coast: It moved north to Bengal from West Nicobars.

Other information is not available. Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 – by F. Henderson. 17. 12–15 May 1852 Cyclonic Storm Formation: Formed near 15°N.

Coast: It moved northward and crossed the Sundarbans coast; the center passed east of Calcutta

Other information is not available. Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 – by F. Henderson. 1864 Kolkata Cyclone More than 60,000 Bengalis were killed in Kolkata Kolkata and Bengal Most houses collapsed and more than 60,000 Bengali children were killed due to severe head injuries in Kolkata Most houses collapsed and more than 60,000 Bengali children were killed in Kolkata due to severe head injuries in Kolkata Most houses collapsed and more than 60,000 Bengalis were killed due to severe head injuries in Kolkata Most houses collapsed and more and 60,000 Indians were killed due to severe head injuries in Kolkata Most houses collapsed and more and 60,000 Indian children were killed due to severe head injuries in Kolkata 18. 13–17 May 1869 Cyclonic Storm The storm moved northwestward from Cape Negrais to Bengal and crossed the Bengal coast

Other information is not available. Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 – by F. Henderson. 19. 5–10 June 1869 Cyclonic Storm Coast: From the North Bay the cyclone passed over Bengal.

Other information is not available. Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 – by F. Henderson. 20. October 1872 (Date was not available) Cyclonic Storm Coast: The cyclone hit the coast of Cox's Bazar

Other information is not available. Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 – by F. Henderson. Banglapedia 21. 29 October – 1 November 1876

(The Great Backerganj Cyclone of 1876) Severe Cyclonic Storm with a core of hurricane winds.~200,000 killed Coast: The cyclone crossed the coast of Backerganj (present Barisal) near Meghna estuary.

Maximum wind: 220 km/h (119 knots)

Surge height: 3–13.6 m (10–45 ft)

According to Banglapedia, a cyclone with a storm-surge of 12.2 metres (40 ft) hit Meghna River estuary near Chittagong, Barisal, and Noakhali. Casualty: about 200,000. The storm also caused epidemic and famine, and vast property damage. Disastrous storms in the Bay of Bengal, A Listing of Cyclonic Storms by Month Through 1979, Prepared for the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, Washington D.C. 20523 – by F. Henderson. BMD Hurricane Storms and tornadoes- by D.V. Nalivkin, 1982, pp. 68. Journal of Asiatic Soc. Vol. XL VI- by H.F. Blanford pp. 338. Tracks of Storms and Depressions in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, 1877–1970, IMD, 1979. Banglapedia22.24 October 1897Cyclonic Storm14,000Coast:Kutubdia island near Chittagong.

Casualty: 14,000. The resulting epidemic of Cholera killed another 18,000 The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) ---23.May 1898 (Date N/A)Tropical cyclone with storm surgeCoast:Teknaf

Casualty: unknown---24.November 1904 (Date N/A)Cyclonic storm143Coast:Sonadia 143 killed and fishing fleet wrecked.---25.16 October 1909Cyclonic Storm698Coast:Khulna Casualty: 698 people and 70,654 cattle.---26.October 1913 (Actual Date N/A)Cyclonic Storm500Coast:Muktagachha upazila (Mymensingh District) A tropical cyclone, having moved inland destroyed villages. Casualty: 500 people.---27.24 September 1917Cyclonic Storm432Coast:Khulna Casualty: 432 people and 28,029 cattle.---28.May 1941 (Date N/A)Cyclonic StormCoast:Eastern Meghna River estuary Casualty: unknown.---29.October 1942 (date N/A)Cyclonic StormCoast:The Sundarbans