Tropical Cyclone Sidr killed more than 3,200 people, left tens of thousands homeless and destroyed crops that could have produced nearly 1 million tons of rice in this impoverished nation.

The storm poses a huge challenge in terms of disaster recovery efforts, while threatening to aggravate the already high inflation rate and high cost of basic necessities as well as slow down economic growth.

How quickly and efficiently the interim government responds could be a key test of its political viability, not to mention the public’s faith in its leadership.

“I’m not sure if they really can see the troubles ahead,” said Ataur Rahman, a political scientist at Dhaka University.”But I can tell you this government is now facing a huge challenge.”

The military-backed interim government seized power in January and declared a state of emergency in an attempt to clean up a political system rife with graft and poisonous rivalries. The government cracked down on corruption in a popular campaign that has sent two former prime ministers to prison, but it also has suspended many civil rights and restricted media freedom.

National elections were planned for Jan. 22, 2007, but the interim government pushed them back to the end of 2008 without setting a specific date. Some suspect that now, after the storm, the vote will get pushed back again.

“The cyclone and its aftermath will definitely slow down ... the preparation for election because the government needs to be focused on relief aid for three to four months,” Rahman said.

“The institutional capacity of the government is limited considering the huge problem the cyclone has created. There is problem of efficiency in delivering the relief goods,” he said.

Election official Shakwat Hossain, however, said the plans for the vote were proceeding on schedule.”We are on the right track. We are working to prepare a complete voters’ roll by October so the elections are held as planned,” Hossain told The Associated Press.

Law and Information Adviser Mainul Hossein also has recently made repeated public statements that the cyclone will not distract the government from holding the polls by end of next year. Other officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Getting much-needed relief to the ravaged districts along the coast has been difficult, despite pledges of up to US$500 million in international aid and support from the U.S. Navy.

“I’ve so far received a few kilos of rice, but that’s not enough for me and my two children,” Shahana Begum, a 45-year-old woman from a devastated village, said nearly two weeks after the disaster struck on Nov. 15.

Bangladesh recently made an international plea for assistance, asking for at least 500,000 tons of rice in next three months.

While the country’s economy has seen several years of encouraging expansion, the Asian Development Bank warned recently that the cyclone could slow growth from 6.5 percent to 6 percent.

Some 60 million people live on less than a dollar a day, and this country of 150 million is already battling an inflation rate of nearly 10 percent.

“Bangladesh is going through real tough times,” said Mir Nasir Hossain, president of Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”There are now many people who have lost their jobs. The prices of the essentials have already been rising. The latest calamities are creating an extra pressure.”

Mokbul Ahmed, a teacher in Dhaka who earns about US$120 a month, said he’s had to cut back on food.”I buy less than what I used to buy five months ago,” he said.”Prices are rising, but not our income.”

If prices don’t fall, the government may find itself losing support from a public that once saw the leaders as its best hope.

“They are going after corrupt politicians, businessmen, but what do I get from it?” asked Mariam Khatoon, a garment worker in Dhaka who earns about US$44 a month.”I’m just paying more for commodities than before.”