44,563 households damaged by ‘Bulbul’ in Bagerhat

A total of 44,563 households, 35,529 hectares of arable land and 7,234 fish enclosures were damaged under the influence of heavy rain and strong winds in the coastal district of Bagerhat caused by the cyclone “Bulbul”.

Besides, 18.35 kilometers of embankments were also damaged due to the cyclonic storm.

Among the households, 35,775 were partially damaged while 8,788 were fully destroyed, reports our Bagerhat correspondent quoting Deputy Commissioner of Bagerhat Mamunur Rashid.

Cyclone Bulbul leaves behind a trail of devastation in coastal district of Bagerhat. Photo: Partha Chakrabortty/Star

The district administration has declared 62 of the 75 unions in Bagerhat as “disaster-affected” as 1,32,300 people in these unions have been affected by “Bulbul”.

The cyclone has also severely damaged over 50 electric poles.

Of the 35,529 hectares of arable land damaged by the cyclone, 31,803 hectares of Ropa Aman, 2, 395 hectares of vegetables, 540 hectares of betel leaf, 70 hectares of bananas, 95 hectares of sugarcane, 35 hectares of chili and 20 hectares of mustard were damaged, said Acting Deputy Director of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Dipak Kumar.

Bagerhat district fisheries official Khaled Kanak said fisherfolk suffered a total loss of Tk 2.93 crore due to damage to their fish enclosures.

Meanwhile, Executive Engineer of Bagerhat Water Development Board Nahid Uzzaman Khan said around 18.35 kilometers of embankments were damaged. The board were examining the damage to the embankments and will start repair work soon, he said.

At least seven people were killed in different coastal districts as cyclone ‘Bulbul’ lashed Khulna and adjoining southwestern part of the country on Sunday before weakening into a deep depression.