Cyclonic storm 'Remal' is expected to enter southern district of Bangladesh as the Met Office forecasted to make landfall in the coastal districts Satkhira and Cox's Bazar by Sunday evening.
"The edge of cyclone may enter parts of Bangladesh from midnight . . . under the influence of cyclone, Bangladesh, particularly its southern and south-eastern regions may witness heavy to very rainfall," Director General of Department of Disaster Management Mizanur Rahman told BSS on Saturday evening.
He said the government has taken all necessary preparations to handle any destructive situation caused by the cyclone.
The DG also said the authorities already directed all relevant organisations alongside involving 78,000 volunteers for launching massive evacuation drive to shift vulnerable populations to safer places.
Referring to the data of the Met Office, Mizanur said as large size of radius of the cyclone has been developed and significant rainfall may occur in 19 costal districts side by side central parts of the country.
Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number three lowering distant cautionary signal number in the wake of the deep depression over the North Bay, a special weather bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said on Saturday.
Talking to reporters at his ministry office in Dhaka, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Mohibbur Rahman on Saturday also said that the government was prepared at all levels to deal with the possible impact of Cyclone Remal.
“A total of 78,000 volunteers from the Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) have been kept ready to deal with cyclone Remal in the coastal districts,” he said.
Around 4,000 cyclone shelter centres have been readied in the coastal districts, equipped with adequate dry food supplies, he added, reports BSS.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) was expected to issue a great danger signal number 10 between 12am and 1am Sunday.
Citing the BMD, Mohibbur warned that parts of Satkhira and Cox's Bazar could face significant impact from Remal, with a potential tidal surge of 7-10 feet, heavy rainfall, and the risk of landslides in the hilly regions of Chattogram.
The BMD is actively monitoring the situation, providing forecasts, and collaborating with various sources of data for proactive decision-making.
"The NDRCC of the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry is operating 24 hours for providing information of the cyclone . . . We are also maintaining regular communication with specialized regional weather stations in India," added the state minister.
He highlighted that due to the government's effective disaster preparedness programmes, human casualties and property damage have been minimized significantly in recently years.
The deep depression over East Central Bay and adjoining west central bay moved northwards over the same area (near lat: 18.2on, lon: 89.8oe) and was centered at 12 noon on Saturday about 500 kms southwest of Chattogram port, 435 kms southwest of Cox's Bazer port, 475 kms south of Mongla port and 425 kms south of Payra port, it added.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to take shelter immediately.
The deep depression over east-central Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwards with a speed of 11 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 12noon on Saturday over the same region near latitude 18.2on and longitude 89.7oe, about 420 km south of Khepupara, about 420 km south-southeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and 460 km south-southeast of canning ( West Bengal), according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
It is very likely to continue to move nearly northwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over Eastcentral and adjoining north bay of Bengal around May 25 evening. Continuing to move further northwards.
It would intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by 26th may morning and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara by May 26 midnight as a severe cyclonic storm with wind speed of 110-1 20 gusting to 135 kmph.
Due to inclement weather, the plying of all inland waterways launches at the Dhaka river port has been suspended until further notice from 10pm on Saturday to ensure passenger safety.
