15th anniversary of Cyclone Sidr

Barishal Correspondent :
November 15, marks the date of 15th anniversary of Super Cyclone Sidr. On November 15, 2007, Tropical Cyclone Sidr hit the coast.
On that day, the destruction of that natural calamity changed the coastal area in an instant. Coastal residents still remembers the merciless horrors of Sidr.
After 15 years, many victims have overcome damage, but many still could not forget that disaster.
A baby girl named Maria was born at the cyclone shelter of Padma village in Sadar Union of Patharghata upazila under Barguna district when the terrible rampage of Sidr took place. She became famous as known as ‘Sidr Baby’ in the country and all over the world.
Maria is now 15 years old lives with her parents in Padma village on the banks of Baleshwar River in Patharghata. Father Farooq Mollah provides sustenance for the family by driving a motorcycle on rent. Maria lived with her parents after building a house on a piece of land inherited from mother Zakia Begum.
However, she did not have the opportunity to study in the family of poor parents. When she was only 13-year-old, Maria had to sit in the wedding in 2020 and got married to Nayan Mia of Barguna municipal area.
After marriage, Nayan also took shelter in her in-laws house and living by fishing in the ocean and river.
Zakia Begum, Maria’s mother, said that during the Sidr, after Maria was born, one NGO gave her a room to reside. They all live in that house after building a house on the land given by her father. As we are poor people, we gave marriage of my daughter as she grows up. The house given 15 years ago is also broken. So now we live in this house with our daughter and son-in-law.
Golam Mustafa, Maria’s grandfather, said that many people said they would give my grandson a lot during the Sidr, but no one gave that much. I gave the grandson some space to stay. My grandson with his son-in-law lives in that place.
Sidr-baby Maria said, being born during the Sidr, life has also become like the Sidr. I live in Nanu’s house. It is very difficult to run our family with what my father earns.
She also said, due to lack of education, parents married me off. My husband earns from fishing and both of us live with my parents. If someone helped me, then we had continued my education, not used to live depending on my family with husband at this minor age.
Local UP chairman Alamgir Hossain said, they are helping Maria and her family as much as we can.