The country is all prepared to face the cyclone Sitrang and minimize the loss of life and properties as met office predicted the storm to hit Bangladesh coast by midnight or early Tuesday.
The latest Met office bulletin says cyclone Sitrang is likely to intensify further, move in a north-northeasterly direction and cross Barishal-Chattogram coast near Khepupara by midnight Monday or early morning Tuesday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered 24-hour monitoring of the sutuaion and gave necessary instructions to the officials to take steps and minimize loss of lives and properties.
The maritime ports of Mongla and Payra were advised to hoist danger signal No 7 while Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar danger signal No 6 instead of local cautionary signal number 4.
Preparations were taken to move around three lakh residents of the char areas of Bhola district to the shelters.
Flight operations to and from Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Barishal airports have been suspended till 12 pm Tuesday, said Mohammad Sohel Quamruzzaman, public relatiosn officer of Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority.
Chittagong Port authorities suspended loading and unloading of containers, while all the ships of New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) were sent to the outer anchorage. Lighter vessels have also been removed from the channel and shifted to Shah Amanat Bridge area and the large ships were sent to the deep sea, said Md Omar Faruq, Secretary of Chattogram Port Authority.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has suspended the operations of vessels on all waterways across the country until further notice.
Power Division, in an office order issued Monday, has asked all its subordinate bodies in power transmission and distribution segments to open control rooms in their respective offices as Cyclone Sitrang approaches.
“Sitrang’ over east-central Bay and adjoining west-central Bay and north Bay moved north-northwestwards over northwest Bay and adjoining northeast Bay,” said the bulletin.
Most parts of the country are getting moderate to heavy rains, including the capital city, from Monday morning under the impact of the approaching cyclone.
Authorities have prepared more than 7000 cyclone shelters to evacuate people while all fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been asked to remain anchored until further notice.
Authorities in Chattogram and other hilly districts warned that landslides could occur if incessant rains continue.
Besides, the low-lying areas of coastal Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar districts and their offshore islands and char area likely to be inundated by the wind-driven surges at height of 5-8 feet above the normal astronomical tide, said the bulletin.
Our correspondents from the southern coastal region reported heavy rains and tidal surges since morning.
The maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted danger signal No 7 while Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar danger signal No 6.
It was centered at 12 pm on Monday about 440 km southwest of Chattogram port, 395 km southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 365 km south-southwest of Mongla port, and 335 km south-southwest of Payra port.
The coastal district of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni and three others offshore islands will come under danger signal 7.
Besides, the river ports of these districts have been advised to hoist danger signal 3.
The coastal districts of Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar and three others offshore islands will also come under danger signal 6.
North Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh are likely to experience gusty or squally winds of 50-60 kph.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kms of the cyclone centre is about 62 kph rising to 88kph in gusts or squalls, it added.
