As Cyclone Remal nears the bay, coastal communities are gripped with fear and anxiety. Residents are experiencing sleepless nights, and volunteers are working tirelessly to reinforce weak embankments. The announcement of alarm signal No. 7 at Mongla port has heightened the sense of urgency, prompting many to seek refuge in cyclone shelters.
Cyclone Remal is knocking at the door of the bay. Eating and sleeping have become forbidden for the people of the coast. Many have spent sleepless nights in worry. Volunteers were seen repairing weak embankments at night. People have already started coming to the cyclone centers. At night, light winds and humming noises spread panic. In the morning, there is rain.
Panic increased in Khulna, Bagerhat, and Satkhira areas after alarm signal No. 7 was announced at Mongla port on the night of May 25. At the same time, a campaign was carried out through miking to make people aware of Cyclone Remal in these coastal areas. People are advised to go to shelters. Extensive preparations have been made by the district and upazila administrations in these areas.
Meanwhile, most of the embankments in the southern coastal area are weak. Although the Water Development Board says that out of 630 km of dams in Dakop, Batiaghata, Paikgacha, Koira, and Khulna, only 10 km of embankments are dangerous. There are 380 km of embankments under Satkhira Water Development Board-1, out of which 30 km are vulnerable. Coastal residents are in panic when they get the signal due to repeated dam breaks.
Cyclone Aila hit Khulna and Satkhira coastal areas on May 25, 2009. Before recovering from Aila, Mahasen struck on May 16, 2013, Komen on July 30, 2015, Roanu on May 21, 2016, Mora on May 30, 2017, Fani on May 4, 2019, and Bulbul on November 10 of the same year. Amphan hit on May 20, 2020, followed by Cyclone Yaas on May 26, 2021, and Asni on May 12, 2022. Sitrang struck on October 25 of the same year, and lastly, 'Mokha'. Some unions of Koira, Dakop, Asashuni, and Shyamnagar upazilas were flooded during these cyclones, and their wounds have not yet healed. Recently, there has been a threat of Cyclone Remal hitting the coast.
It is reported that water is seeping through the embankment of Gabura union in Shyamnagar upazila of coastal Satkhira. A dilapidated dam in Subhadrakati area was repaired late at night by volunteers. Geo bags were arranged there by the Water Development Board. The local people filled the soil in geo bags and repaired the road.
At any time, weak embankments can break down and flood large areas. People of Koira, Dakop, Paikgacha of Khulna district, and Shyamnagar, Asashuni, and Bagerhat of Satkhira district are spending sleepless nights with such fears. Akhtaruzzaman and Billal Hossain, who live next to the dam in Gobra village of Koira upazila, said that their homesteads were lost to the river due to the collapse of the Ghantakhali dam during Aila.
After that, they stayed in the shelter for about two months. From there, they built a hut on the dam and started living. At one stage, according to the representatives of the people, they are living in the slums of the dam by rebuilding houses. Even after 15 years of Aila, they could not return to their home. There are about a hundred families near the dam. They are in panic after receiving the signal of Cyclone Remal and spent a sleepless night.
Chairman of South Bedkashi Union of Koira, Md. Khadir Ali Moral, said that his union's Gharilal to Charamukha Kheyaghat, and Kheyaghat to Haldibunia are more dangerous.
Shahin Alam, a resident of Satkhira Shyamnagar upazila, said that the condition of most of the embankments in the union is very bad. A few days ago, an embankment in the area collapsed. They are living in great fear. Executive Engineer of Satkhira Water Development Board-1, Md. Salahuddin said, "We have 380 km of embankments under our jurisdiction. 30 km of embankment is risky. However, work on the mega project in Gabura is ongoing. There are problems in some places. There is an opportunity to work on any problems immediately."
Executive Engineer of Khulna Water Development Board (Division-2) Md. Ashraful Alam said, "There are 630 km of embankment in my area. 10 km of it is dangerous. Besides, there is an opportunity to take emergency measures if there is any immediate problem."
Khulna Deputy Commissioner Khandkar Yasir Arefin said that 604 cyclone shelters have been prepared to deal with cyclones. A total of 315,180 people can take shelter in these cyclone shelters. Besides, 430 people can be sheltered, and 560 cattle can be kept in 3 Mujib Qillas. 5,280 volunteers are ready in Koira, Dakop, and Paikgacha upazilas.
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