1992 in Bangladesh
The year 1992 was the 21st year after the independence of Bangladesh. It was the second year of the first term of the government of Khaleda Zia. Climate. Cyclone. A powerful tropical cyclone, named Cyclone Forrest prompted the evacuation of 600,000 people in Bangladesh in late November 1992. Originating from an area of disturbed weather near the Caroline Islands on 9 November, Forrest was classified as a tropical depression three days later over the South China Sea. Tracking generally west, the system steadily organized into a tropical storm, passing Vietnam to the south, before striking Thailand along  the Malay Peninsula on 15 November. Once over the Bay of Bengal, Forrest turned northward on 17 November and significantly intensified. It reached its peak intensity on 20 November as a Category 4-equivalent cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale with winds of 230 km/h (145 mph). Hostile environmental conditions soon affected the cyclone as it turned abruptly east-northeastward. Forrest made landfall in northwestern Myanmar as a weakening system on 21 November before dissipating early the next day. On 20 November, as Forrest reached its peak intensity, fears arose across Bangladesh that a repeat of the catastrophic  April 1991 cyclone would take place. As a result, mass evacuation plans were enacted across coastal areas of the country, with plans to relocate up to 2 million people. But the storm abruptly turned eastward, and the successful evacuation of 600,000 residents spared countless lives. Only two deaths were recorded and overall damage was light, though half of all homes on St. Martin's Island were damaged. Economy. Note: For the year 1992 average official exchange rate for BDT was 38.95 per US$.