Sidr aftermath: Hold firm the helm of economy
The Chief Adviser of the caretaker government was very right when he extolled the people of southern districts of Bangladesh as very brave being used to live with the unpredictable nature. The ultimate cost of such bravery, however, has been so very heavy as would blunt our imagination. Surnamed 'Sidr' the cyclone created havoc in the southern districts mostly razing every things on its way. Trees were uprooted, crops in the field awaiting harvest were damaged beyond salvation. Every homestead was ruthlessly battered. The death toll of human being was about 4000 till the last report came in. This didn't include innumerable missing. Many fishermen who went out the day before to the sea to catch fish were yet to return home. Perhaps they would never come back. The onslaught of the cyclone reaching a velocity of about 250 kilometer per hour with the sea waters rising 20-25 feet high ransacked the Sundarbans. Many deer and a number of other wild animals were washed out to the Bay. A big part of the mangrove forest was rendered barren.
Indeed the beauteous form of nature assumed an angry, viciously hostile look all of a sudden. Our meteorological department had sensed the danger quite in time and sent out cautionary signals to the people living in the coastal belt and the myriads of fishermen in their boats afloat in the mid-sea. Yet many people in the danger zone preferred watching the situation. They couldn't anticipate the conditions would aggravate. Those who left their homes for safer places and cyclone shelters came back with a notion that they wouldn't be hit this time. That the intensity of the cyclonic storm would soon die down without being calamitous. And that eventually turned out to be pitiably suicidal.
In 1970 a similar type of cyclonic storm and massive tidal waves hit the coastal belt on November 12. That time about a million lost their lives. It is claimed that the loss of human lives could have been bigger it, despite the uncertainty of the lashing, many inhabitants on the cyclone- route were not shifted to more than 2000 shelters in the coastal belt.
Yet the loss of human lives, of the means of subsistence, livestock, poultry, fisheries, crops in the field, orchards, trees and plants, of hearths and homes providing shelter to the majority of the poor people in the community cannot be under estimated or ignored. The magnitude of the total loss apart, it is impossible to measure the miserable plights of the survivors.
Two successive flash floods had already created adverse effect on the national economy. The cyclonic storm 'Sidr' reversed the whole programme of reconstruction and rehabilitation. There is no doubt that the impact of this natural disaster on the national economy would be all-pervasive. It is a big challenge for the government and in the logical sequence it shall not be an easy task for the government or for that matter, for the people at large to meet this challenge.
The crisis generating in the economy is likely to be compounded due to the continuous hull obtaining in the economic activities. Such an unsolicited recess owes its origin to some unplanned administrative steps and their negative impact following anti-corruption move of the caretaker government. All these have affected activities of the business community. Likewise, it has slowed down the hitherto rapid process of investment. Along with it the ever spiraling prices of fuel in the world market is creating direct impact on the prices of essential commodities, food and other items and in consequence where of the pressure of inflation is ever mounting. The government had started to take some steps as would contain the warning situation after two successive floods. Unfortunately, the recent cyclone has put all those plans upside down.
Right at this moment, the work of rehabilitation of the affected people has assumed topmost priority. Yet, in the days ahead the rate of inflation, now over seven per cent, is feared to rise further due to the massive destruction of the standing crop in the field. The degree of loss sustained by the industrial sector will also have a negative effect on the export earnings, it is apprehended. On the other hand the rate of implementation of ADP of the government stands at a very low point. This reflects that not only the private sector the investment of the state has also gone down. Revenue earnings of the government have not also been satisfactory due to lack of unfettered business and commercial activities.
Against such a backdrop it shall imperative to augment investment in both the public and the private sector. Particularly, it shall be expedient on the part of the government to create employment opportunities by way of enhancing financial support to the rural sector of the economy. In the same breath expeditious measures should to be taken for obtaining release of donor funds quickly. In the whole process the involvement of the private sector will also have to be ensured. An all-pervasive national endeavour can only restore the desired mobility in the national economy rapidly.
Lastly, we have got to take lessons anew that cyclones and violent upsurge of the sea and mighty rivers have been responsible for huge loss of human lives. There must be a renewed realisation about the urgency for a more enhanced preparedness to face such catastrophe. This should include erection of cyclone shelters at every village in the coastal belt not beyond one kilometer i.e. be in such proximity as would enable the villagers reach them easily. This particular issue will hopefully receive highest priority of the government.
Meantime, all our efforts should be to reach relief to the affected people quickly. It can be a joint endeavour of the public and the private sector to make it more cohesive and effective. And finally some appreciation for the courageous people of the coastal belt in the words of none other than the great Dr Samuel Johnson: "Courage is the greatest of all the virtues. Because if you haven't courage, you may not have an opportunity to use any of the others. God willing, the cyclone hit people will rise again with renewed determination, vigour and zeal to rebuild their battered life and move ahead.
Kazi Alauddin Ahmed is a management consultant.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments