Coastal Areas’ Perils Need to Be Recognized and Eradicated With State Level Endeavours

The present of today becomes the history of tomorrow. History teaches people lessons from past experiences and inspires courage and awareness for the journey ahead. Through special days, a nation carries its significant events, achievements, sacrifices, and painful memories from one generation to the next. In this context, ‘Coastal Day’ could become an important national observance. Despite years of movements, campaigns, demands, and efforts to build public support, the day has yet to receive official state recognition.

Bangladesh has crossed 55 years of independence. Over this long period, the country has undergone numerous political, economic, and social transformations. It has faced famine, poverty, leadership crises, natural disasters, and the impacts of climate change. Its population has grown, its economy has expanded, and significant changes have taken place in agriculture, industry, fisheries, remittances, and employment. Bangladesh is now moving forward on the path of development. The contribution of coastal communities to this journey is undeniable.

The coastal region is closely connected to the country's food security, fisheries, agricultural production, salt industry, forest resources, tourism, water transportation, and foreign trade. Marine fisheries and shrimp production, in particular, play an important role in the national economy. Yet, despite making such significant contributions, the struggles of coastal workers, fishermen, farmers, salt cultivators, and marginalized communities receive insufficient attention in national policymaking and the media.

Bangladesh has approximately 710 kilometres of coastline, which is extremely important for the country's economy, environment, and biodiversity. The livelihoods of nearly 50 million people are directly or indirectly connected to the coastal region. Their primary sources of income include fishing, agriculture, shrimp farming, salt production, forest resource collection, local transportation, and small businesses.

However, life in the coastal region is far from easy. People constantly face cyclones, tidal surges, floods, river erosion, salinity, declining navigability of rivers and canals, waterlogging, coastal erosion, shortages of safe drinking water, and the adverse impacts of climate change. Various human-induced problems have further aggravated the situation. In some areas, people are losing their homes to river erosion; elsewhere, salinity is damaging agricultural land, while prolonged waterlogging is disrupting crop production for years.

November 12: A Painful Day in Coastal History

November 12, 1970, remains one of the most devastating and tragic days in the history of Bangladesh's coastal communities. On that day, a catastrophic cyclone and tidal surge turned vast areas of the coastal region of the then East Pakistan into ruins. The disaster is historically known as the ‘Bhola Cyclone’. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in world history in terms of human casualties. According to various estimates, approximately 500,000 people lost their lives.

The cyclone originated in the Bay of Bengal and gradually intensified. With wind speeds reaching approximately 185 kilometres per hour, accompanied by devastating tidal surges, it inundated vast stretches of coastal settlements. Homes, agricultural fields, livestock, fish farms, and entire communities were swept away by the floodwaters. Tazumuddin in Bhola was among the worst-affected areas, along with extensive parts of the southern region. An enormous number of people died in Tazumuddin, making it one of the most devastating humanitarian tragedies in the history of a local community.

The deaths, the pain of losing loved ones, the cries of people who lost their homes, and the anguish of those who lost everything remain alive in the collective memory of coastal communities. Yet many among the younger generation today are unaware of the horrific history of November 12. If the day were officially commemorated by the state, future generations would learn about the immense disasters coastal communities have endured and how their people continue to contribute to the development of Bangladesh.

Cyclones Change Names, but the Scars of Disasters Remain

Even after the devastating cyclone of 1970, disasters continued to strike coastal communities. One cyclone, flood, and tidal surge after another has battered this region.

The devastating 1991 cyclone, Sidr in 2007, Aila in 2009, Mahasen in 2013, Roanu in 2016, Mora in 2017, Fani and Bulbul in 2019, Amphan in 2020, Yaas in 2021, Sitrang in 2022, and Mocha in 2023 have all left deep scars on the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities.

Later, on May 26, 2024, Cyclone Remal struck the coast of Bangladesh. Its impact included tidal surges, heavy rainfall, embankment breaches, waterlogging, and extensive agricultural damage.

In June of the same year, floods affected Sylhet, Sunamganj, and other northeastern areas. In August, devastating flash floods hit 11 districts, including Feni, Noakhali, Cumilla, Lakshmipur, Chattogram, and Moulvibazar. According to a United Nations report, approximately 5.8 million people were affected by the August floods.

In 2025, seasonal rainfall and upstream water surges again caused flooding in various areas, including Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Netrokona, Noakhali, Bhola, Khagrachhari, Bandarban, and Rangamati. In particular, heavy rainfall and waterlogging in several southern areas, including Patuakhali, damaged agriculture, fisheries, and people's livelihoods.

In 2026, people in coastal and hilly regions were once again unable to escape natural disasters. In July, heavy rainfall, flash floods, and landslides affected extensive areas across seven districts, including Cox's Bazar. According to a United Nations situation report dated July 23, 2026, approximately 1.28 million people were affected across the seven districts. Homes, agricultural land, fisheries, communication infrastructure, and sources of safe drinking water were damaged.

One point deserves special mention: not every flood event has a separate internationally recognized name. Therefore, depending on the region and timing, these disasters are commonly referred to as the Sylhet floods, northeastern floods, eastern-region flash floods, or the 2026 flash floods and landslides.

After every disaster, relief operations, rehabilitation efforts, and damage assessments take place. For a while, the suffering of coastal communities makes headlines in the media. But once the situation returns to normal, the coastal region gradually disappears from public attention. Yet the wounds of disasters, accumulated debts, the pain of losing livelihoods, and the challenges of rehabilitation remain for years.

Why Do We Need a ‘Coastal Day’?

My question is simple: When Bangladesh observes so many national and international days, why should there not be one dedicated to its coastal communities? The people of this region make significant contributions to the national economy, food security, fisheries, agriculture, and foreign exchange earnings. Is it unreasonable to have a national day to remember their struggles and the history of disasters they have endured?

I was born in the coastal region. My thoughts and concerns revolve around the coast, and I work on issues related to the struggles and potential of coastal communities. Through journalism, I try every day to highlight the problems, opportunities, and disasters affecting this region. But can publishing news reports alone solve the longstanding challenges faced by coastal communities?

Having a designated day would at least provide an opportunity once a year for the state, government, administration, media, researchers, development workers, and ordinary citizens to speak collectively about the coastal region. It would create a national platform for discussing coastal challenges, opportunities, disasters, the environment, biodiversity, the economy, and people's rights.

Observing Coastal Day could bring several important issues to the forefront, including:

Remembering those who lost their lives in the devastating cyclone of November 12, 1970, and other major disasters in the past.

Strengthening demands to ensure the quality of life, safety, and rights of coastal communities.

Raising public awareness about cyclones, tidal surges, floods, river erosion, and the impacts of climate change.

Highlighting the importance of coastal agriculture, fisheries, the salt industry, tourism, and other promising economic sectors.

Demanding sustainable coastal embankments, safe drinking water, healthcare, education, communication facilities, and secure living conditions.
Engaging the younger generation in disaster preparedness, environmental conservation, and development activities.

Ensuring that coastal communities receive special attention in national development plans and budget allocations.

Years of Advocacy: Now Awaiting State Recognition

For many years, I have been thinking about the coastal region, reflecting on the hardships of its people, and writing about their challenges.

Since 2017, various organizations, journalists, development workers, environmental activists, and concerned citizens of the coastal region have been campaigning to declare November 12 as ‘Coastal Day’.

Organizations such as the Coastal Bangladesh Foundation, Coastal Journalists Forum, Coastal Youth Network, Alokjatra, National Committee to Protect Roads, Highways and Railways, Patharghata Coastal Protection Movement, and Coastal Development Forum have been working in support of this demand.

The ‘Coastal Day Implementation Committee’, formed through the joint efforts of nearly 100 organizations, has been working for a long time to secure official recognition for the day. The number of supporting organizations continues to grow.

The demand has already received attention in national, local, and international media. Public support for observing the day has also developed across various coastal districts and upazilas. Discussions, human chains, rallies, memorial gatherings, and awareness programs are being organized in different locations.

This movement does not serve the interests of any individual or organization. Rather, it represents a legitimate demand for the lives, livelihoods, safety, and development of nearly 50 million people living in the coastal region.

A day of national observance is not merely about celebration, formalities, or organizing programs on a particular date. Behind every such day lie history, heritage, sacrifice, achievement, sorrow, awareness, and commitments for the future.

Through commemorating special days, a nation remembers its past, evaluates its present, and draws lessons for the future. A national day is also one of the important ways to recognize the contributions, rights, challenges, and potential of a particular community at both state and social levels.

From this perspective, the demand to declare November 12 as ‘Coastal Day’ is not simply a demand for another day on the national calendar. It is a call to preserve coastal history, pay tribute to those who lost their lives in disasters, uphold the rights and livelihoods of 50 million people, and make a national commitment to sustainable coastal development.

If the Coast Survives, Bangladesh Survives

Bangladesh is no longer a country struggling at the margins of development. Despite numerous limitations, the country is steadily progressing. There is no denying the contribution of coastal communities to this national journey. Yet Bangladesh's coastal region remains one of the areas most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Rising sea levels, increasing salinity, river erosion, cyclones, tidal surges, excessive rainfall, and waterlogging constantly threaten the very existence of coastal communities.

Therefore, distributing relief only during disasters is not enough. Effective initiatives are needed to ensure long-term planning, sustainable infrastructure, environmental protection, employment opportunities, and improved living standards.

The government, alongside non-governmental development organizations, the media, research institutions, educational institutions, and civil society, has an important role to play in this regard.

The coastal region must not be viewed merely as a disaster-prone area; it must also be recognized as a region with enormous economic potential.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that November 12 is not just another date. It represents the struggle of coastal people to survive, the pain of losing loved ones, the fight against natural disasters, and the history of rebuilding lives with courage and determination.

It is our moral responsibility to pay tribute to the hundreds of thousands of people who lost their lives in the devastating cyclone of 1970 and to ensure that future generations learn about the history of the coastal region.

Therefore, I make a strong appeal to the government: November 12 should be officially declared ‘Coastal Day’.

The day should not remain limited to remembrance or ceremonial activities. Instead, it should be observed as a day of commitment to coastal protection, the establishment of people's rights, and sustainable development.

Let us all stand beside coastal communities, regardless of political affiliation, social class, or profession. Let us bring the history, heritage, potential, and challenges of the coastal region to the centre of our national development agenda.

Our demand is one and clear: Let November 12 be declared ‘Coastal Day’.

 Shafiqul Islam Khokon 
is a columnist and a researcher.