Bangladesh, The mid-November 2007 cyclone which caused the death of thousands and damaged properties worth billions of rupees, was only a "mild" affair
compared to what had occurred there in November 1970 which had killed at least 50,000 people and some estimated it at around ten lakhs.Besides, this cyclone, the worst in human history, also had a
momentous political fall out in that it has hastened the separation of East Pakistan from its western wing, and the creation of Bangladesh.

But first the meteorological aspect of that apocalyptic storm surge,typhoon or other name that can describe this onslaught of nature on the small country which always appear to be the hunting ground of deep
depressions or cyclone which form in the Bay of Bengal and always manage to turn towards Bangladesh after threatening the States of Orissa and West Bengal in India,

The hot waters of the Indian Ocean appear to be the breeding ground for all these tropical deep depressions and cyclones and the earth's daily rotation appear to have something to do with Bangladesh being the targets of these twisters. Bangladesh is hit twice a year by these storms- first during May to July (normally) during the south-west
monsoon period and the second during November to February, during the north-east monsoon of the Indian sub-continent.

On November12, 1970, cyclone Bhola had hit the Bangladesh coast at night and had killed lakhs in its wake. The wind speed was 220 kilometres an hour and this had raised the level of the sea by ten
meters (about 33 feet).The most densely populated Bangladesh accounted for an estimated five lakh deaths, although many believe that the figure was more than ten lakhs.(The name "Bhola") comes a large island of the same name near the moth of the combine currents of the Padma (the Ganga is known by this name in East Bengal, which later became Bangladesh), the Brahmaputra and the Meghana. The cyclone had first hit this island, which was densely populated

Now the political fall out. Earlier in the same year, general elections were held for the Pakistan National Assembly. Military ruler Yahya Khan was shocked when the results were out .The Awami League of East Pakistan,led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had won all but one seat from the eastern wing and the majority in the national assembly. He, therefore should have been invited to form the Government at the Centre.
However, the Pakistani leadership would never have a Bengali as the elected Prime Minister of Pakistan. No government was formed and leaders of the Western wing tried their best to resist Mujib from taking over the reins of Pakistan.

Not much help had come from the western wing of the country for the people affected by the cyclone In order to add insult to injury,Governor of East Pakistan, Vice Admiral Syed Mohammed Ahsan, had said
that the casualty figure was only 16,000 dead.

It was after this inhuman treatment by the West Pakistanis, who did not bother to extent relief and prohibited Indian from extending it that the struggle for an independent Bangladesh had gained momentum.
Since March 1971, the agitation for an Independent Bangladesh had gained ground and after India's war with Pakistan in December 1971,the defeated Pakistanis had no other option but to agree to a cease-fire and surrender of 93,000 soldiers to India on December 16,
1971. Bangladesh was born that day.

However, cyclones continued their onslaught on the new nation. In May 1985, another devastating cyclone had hit Bangladesh. The political fall-out of this cyclone was a visit to the cyclone affected area at "Urir Char" in the Noakhali district of the country on June 2, 1985 jointly by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of India, President Jayavardhane of Sri Lanka and the host, President Ershad. This visit had taken place on eve of the formation of South Asia Association of
Regional Co-operation (SSARC) sometime later.

There have been more cyclones in Bangladesh all through during the last 15 years, perhaps the worst being the one in 1991 which had taken a toll of an estimated 1,30,000 people. More cyclone are likely but
with global warming raising the sea level, the danger is of low-lying land being devoured by the Bay of Bengal

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