Cyclone Amphan: Bangladesh may face losses worth Tk12,744cr

Cox Gazette | Online Desk May 20, 2020, 10:54 PM Cyclone Amphan: Bangladesh may face losses worth Tk12,744cr

Previously, Cyclone Sidr caused losses worth nearly Tk19,625 crore, while Cyclone Aila cost nearly Tk8,946 crore

Cyclone Amphan may cause economic losses worth $1.5 billion, or nearly Tk12,744 crore when it hits Bangladesh.

Members of the National Disaster Management Council (NDMC) made an estimate of possible losses due to the extremely severe cyclone during a virtual meeting on Wednesday morning.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting from her official residence, Ganabhaban, in Dhaka.

The preliminary estimate took into account rural infrastructure, schools, crops, and livestock.

Wishing to remain anonymous, one of the sources at the meeting told Dhaka Tribune that the government was estimating around $1.5 billion in economic losses due to Cyclone Amphan.

“Previously, Cyclone Sidr caused $2.31 billion [nearly TK19,625 crore] in losses, while Cyclone Aila cost $1 billion [around Tk8,946 crore],” the source stated.

Amphan is projected to hit Mongla and the nearby areas of the Sundarbans.

During the virtual meeting, the prime minister instructed all ministries and agencies concerned to protect people from Amphan.

Agriculture Minister Dr. Abdur Razzak, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr. Enamur Rahman, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and chiefs of army, navy, and air force participated in the virtual meeting.