Bangladesh
Bhola Cyclone 1 million killed in 1970 Bhola Cyclone due to negligence of Pakistani rulers: AKM Mozammel Haque
Dhaka, November 12: One million people died in the cyclone of November 12, 1970 due to the negligence of the Pakistani rulers towards the Bengalis, Liberation War Affairs AKM Mozammel Haque said on Thursday.
He said the Pakistanis did not provide any advance information on the cyclone and despite getting help from foreigners, no help came from West Pakistan, the then rulers.
They even lied about the number of deaths in the cyclone.
Haque was addressing a programme- 'Cyclone Preparedness Program for Disaster Risk Reduction (CPP) Volunteering'-at Biam Auditorium in Dhaka on Thursday, where he made the comments.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr. Md. Enamur Rahman, Director of CPP Ahmadul Haque, Secretary General of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Md. Feroz Salahuddin and Muhammad Saidur Rahman, the first director of the CPP, spoke. Md. Mohsin, Secretary of Ministry for Disaster Management and Relief, presided over the function.
The minister said that the Bengalis responded to the contempt of the Bengalis by rejecting the Punjabis in the elections of '70 and forcing them to surrender through the great war of liberation.
The Minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman built the first Mujib Fort to deal with natural calamities and protect human life and property. In 1973, he set up a voluntary organization for disaster relief, the Cyclone Preparedness Program, which is well-known worldwide.
Following in the footsteps of Bangabandhu, the present Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is also working with utmost importance on disaster management and relief activities. Under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh is now a role model in the world in disaster management.
State Minister for Relief Dr. Md. Enamur Rahman said that the number of cyclone deaths in Bangladesh has come down a lot due to the bravery and sincere activities of the CPP volunteers.
The event was attended by CPP volunteers from different parts of the country. At the ceremony, 79 volunteers were awarded for their contribution in saving lives and property in disasters.
