On November 15, 2007, Cyclone Sidr hit Patuakhali. In a single day, about 466 people lost their lives in the district and 211 are still missing. About Tk. 3,200 crore was lost, and more than 1,00,000 people in the district were displaced. Although reconstruction efforts have begun after Sidr, the terrible memories of Sidr still create fear in the minds of local residents.
Sidr caused extensive damage in Patuakhali. Houses, roads, schools, colleges, and the fisheries sector were almost completely destroyed. The fisheries sector in particular suffered major damage, which had a long-term impact on the district's economy. Moreover, the cyclone caused embankments to erode, causing water logging in vast areas. The district administration and various NGOs jointly started reconstruction efforts, but the damage caused by Sidr could not be completely overcome. Local residents are still in fear, remembering the terrible memories of Sidr.
A local resident of Patuakhali, Md. Selim (45), said, 'I can't forget the day of Sidr. I lost a lot that day. Even when now the weather is bad, I still feel like Sidr will come again.'
A 61-year-old woman, Jahanara Begum, still gets shocked when she remembers the terrible devastation of Sidr. She said, 'Everything in my house was destroyed. I still feel scared when I remember the times of Sidr.'
Another resident, Anwar Hossain (52), said, 'After losing everything, when we were slowly getting up, it felt like nothing would happen. Even though the situation is much better now, the fear of Sidr remains in our minds.'
Rahima Begum (60), a mother who lost her son, said, 'My son went missing on the night of Sidr. I searched a lot, but I couldn't find him anywhere. When I remember that night, I still burst into tears. I never found my child, but I still hope that he will return.'
After Sidr, disaster management in Patuakhali has improved a lot. Currently, the number of cyclone shelters in the coastal areas has increased and various programs are being taken to increase awareness among people during disasters. The local administration is working on constructing cyclone shelters and repairing embankments. The people of this region are now more prepared for disasters like Sidr.
However, Sidr in 2007 was a terrible chapter for Patuakhali district, the damage and memories of which remain in the minds of people even today.