Seaports, airports suspend operations

Adverse weather caused by Cyclone Sitrang, approaching the Bangladesh coast, halted operations in the country’s two largest seaports and three airports on Monday 

Both the Chattogram Port and the Mongla Port, the country’s biggest and second-biggest seaports respectively, suspended operational activities ahead of Sitrang’s landing as precautionary measures.

Loading and unloading of goods from the mother vessel at the outer anchorage and jetties at the country’s main gateway in Chattogram was suspended following the issuance of danger signal number seven by the Meteorological Department. However, goods unloading at the outer anchorage had been closed since Sunday.

Mohammad Omar Faruq, Secretary of Chattogram Port Authority, said instructions had been issued to evacuate the jetties and channel of the port. Most of the ships had already left the port.

The port opened a control room and the situation was being monitored, he said.

All ocean-going vessels at jetties within the harbour were ordered to move to outer anchorage.

On the other hand, small vessels, lighterage vessels, fishing trawlers and other vessels were asked to stay outside the port channel within the Banglabazar to Kalurghat Bridge area of the Karnaphuli River.

At Monday noon the busy port with hundreds of vessels became empty.

 At 3 PM, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) asked all flights from three airports in the country including Shah Amanat International Airport to remain grounded.

Taslim Ahamed, Director of Shah Amanat Airport, said after the decision of the CAAB all flights to and from Shah Amanat Airport cancelled their operations.

Before imposing the restriction, a total of 15 flights had been operated, he said, adding that the rest of the flights were cancelled by respective airlines authorities.

According to the Patenga Meteorological Office, the cyclone was 340 km away from the Chattogram Port at around 3 pm. The wind speed in the Chattogram region was about 20 nautical miles per hour. 

Meanwhile, loading and unloading of goods from both domestic and foreign commercial ships at Mongla Port in Khulna were halted, after the met department issued its second highest danger alert--Alert-3-- for the port on Monday afternoon.