The 1991 Bangladesh cyclone (IMD designation: BOB 01, JTWC designation: 02B) was among the deadliest tropical cyclones on record. On the night of 29 April 1991, it struck the Chittagong district of southeastern Bangladesh with winds of around 250 km/h (155 mph). The storm forced a 6-metre (20 ft) storm surge inland over a wide area, killing at least 138,866 people and leaving as many as 10 million homeless.[3]
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
During 22 April 1991, a circulation formed in the southern Bay of Bengal from a persistent area of convection, or thunderstorms, near the equator in the eastern Indian Ocean. Within two days, the cloud mass encompassed most of the Bay of Bengal, focused on an area west of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.[4][5] On 24 April, the India Meteorological Department (IMD)[nb 1] designated the system as a depression, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)[nb 2] labeled the system as Tropical Cyclone 02B. Ships in the region reported winds of around 55 km/h (35 mph) around this time.[8]
From its genesis, the storm moved northwestward, being gradually strengthened, amplified by a wind surge from the south. By 26 April, wind shear had decreased to near zero as an anticyclone developed aloft the hurricane. Around this time, the cyclone rounded the western periphery of a large subtropical ridge over Thailand, and the storm turned northward between the ridge to the northeast and northwest. On 28 April, the flow of the southwesterlies caused the cyclone to accelerate to the north-northeast. This flow also amplified the storm's outflow, and the cyclone intensified further. By 12:00 UTC on 28 April, or about 31 hours before landfall, the JTWC was correctly forecasting a landfall in southeastern Bangladesh.[4] Early on 29 April, the IMD upgraded the system to a super cyclonic storm – the highest category – and estimated peak winds of 240 km/h (150 mph). The JTWC estimated peak winds of 160 mph (260 km/h), the equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale or a super typhoon. The cyclone's high winds and low pressure, a rarity for the Bay of Bengal, ranked it among the most intense cyclones in the basin. At 19:00 UTC on 29 April, the cyclone made landfall about 55 km (35 mi) south of Chittagong in southeastern Bangladesh while slightly below its peak strength. Moving through the mountainous terrain of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the cyclone quickly weakened and crossed into northeast India, where it degenerated into a remnant low-pressure area.[9][8][4]
10 May – President Bush directed the US military to provide humanitarian assistance to Bangladesh under the umbrella of Operation Sea Angel.[10] A Contingency Joint Task Force under the command of Lieutenant General Henry C. Stackpole, consisting of over 400 Marines and 3,000 sailors, was subsequently sent to Bangladesh to provide food, water, and medical care to nearly two million people.
17 July – Government raised the maximum age limit for entering government job from 27 years to 30 years.[11]
15 September – A constitutional referendum was held where voters were asked "Should or not the President assent to the Constitution (Twelfth Amendment) Bill, 1991 of the People's Republic of Bangladesh?" The amendments would lead to the reintroduction of parliamentary government, with the President becoming the constitutional head of state, but the Prime Minister the executive head. The result saw 83.6% vote in favour, with a turnout of 35.2%.[12]
Bangladesh participated in the fifth South Asian Federation Games held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 22–31 December. With 4 golds, 8 silvers and 28 bronzes Bangladesh ended the tournament at the fourth position in overall points table.[14]
^The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force that issues tropical cyclone warnings for the northern Indian Ocean and other regions.[7]
^ abcAnnual Tropical Cyclone Report(PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center (Report). United States Navy, United States Airforce. 1992. p. 155. Archived(PDF) from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
^"Tropical Cyclone 02B Best Track". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. United States Navy, United States Airforce. 1 December 2002. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
^ abBangladesh Cyclone, April 24–30 1991(PDF) (Report on Cyclonic Disturbances (Depressions and Tropical Cyclones) over North Indian Ocean in 1991). India Meteorological Department. January 1992. p. 4. Archived(PDF) from the original on 31 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
^"215-Law-1991"(PDF). Department of Printing and Publications, Government of Bangladesh. Archived from the original(PDF) on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
^Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume I, p534 ISBN0-19-924958-X
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
