Dhaka, Nov. 16 -- Eighteen years have passed since Super Cyclone Sidr slammed into Bangladesh's southern coast on this day in 2007, leaving behind a trail of devastation that still haunts thousands of coastal families.
Striking at nightfall on November 15, Sidr tore through 12 coastal districts with winds over 240 kmph, killing thousands of people and animals, flattening homes, and destroying vast stretches of cropland and forests.
Entire villages were washed away as the cyclone's massive storm surge swept through Barguna, Patuakhali, Bagerhat and Pirojpur - the worst-hit districts. The cyclone also caused severe destruction in Jhalakathi, Satkhira, Khulna, Gopalganj, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Barishal and Bhola where schools, roads, embankm...