The maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been asked to hoist the Great Danger Signal No 10 as cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ over northwest Bay and adjoining area moved northwards and intensified into a severe cyclonic storm.
The maritime ports of Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar have been asked to hoist Great Danger Signal No 9.
The cyclone was centred at 6am on Sunday about 400 kms southwest of Chattogram port, 360 kms southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 330 kms south of Mongla port and 295 kms south of Payra port, said a bulletin issued at 8:30am on Sunday signed by Kh Hafizur Rahman, a meteorologist at BMD.
It is likely to move in a northern direction and may cross Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara coast near Mongla by this evening.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 64 km of the severe cyclone centre is about 90 kph rising to 120 kph in gusts or squalls; the sea will remain high near the severe cyclone centre.
The coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagherhat, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Barguna, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali and their islands and chars will come under Great Danger Signal ten (r) ten, according to the bulletin.
The coastal districts of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Feni, Cumilla, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur and their islands and chars will come under Great Danger Signal nine (r) nine.
Under the peripheral effect of the severe cyclone and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagherhat, Pirojpur Jhalakathi, Barguna, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Cumilla, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar and their islands and chars are likely to be inundated by wind driven surge of 08-12 feet height above normal, astronomical tide, it reads.
Under the influence of the cyclone Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions are likely to experience heavy (44-88 mm) to very heavy rainfall (289 mm) with gusty or squally wind. Due to very heavy rainfall, landslide may occur at places in Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Chattogram.
All fishing boats and trawlers in North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.
Khulna, Satkhira brace for impact
As the cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ approaches with high speed, tension has gripped the residents of the country’s southern and southeastern coastal areas, which are the most vulnerable to such natural disasters.
In Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira, many people were seen voluntarily repairing weak embankments overnight. Cyclone centers in Khulna and Satkhira districts are already filling up with people seeking safety.
On Sunday night, after a danger signal number 7 was issued at Mongla Port, panic spread across Khulna, Bagerhat, and Satkhira. In response, awareness campaigns using loudspeakers were initiated to inform residents about Cyclone Remal and urge them to move to shelters.
The district and upazila administrations have made extensive preparations to tackle the cyclone. However, many embankments in the southern coastal areas remain weak. The Water Development Board reports that out of 630 kms of embankments in Khulna’s Dakop, Batiaghata, Paikgasa, and Koyra, 10 kms are considered vulnerable. In Satkhira, 30 kms out of 380 kms of embankments are at risk.
The coastal areas of Khulna and Satkhira have a history of being battered by cyclones. Cyclone Aila struck on May 25, 2009, followed by Mahasen on May 16, 2013, Komen on July 30, 2015, Roanu on May 21, 2016, Mora on May 30, 2017, Fani on May 4, 2019, Bulbul on November 10, 2019, Amphan on May 20, 2020, Yaas on May 26, 2021, Asani on May 12, 2022, Sitrang on October 25, 2022, and most recently Cyclone Mocha.
Each of these cyclones has caused significant damage, breaking embankments and flooding areas like Koyra, Dakop, Assasuni, and Shyamnagar, leaving lasting scars.
In Shyamnagar’s Gabura union, water is seeping through several parts of the embankment. Residents of Subhadrakati worked through the night to repair a dilapidated embankment using geo-bags provided by the Water Development Board.
This fear has kept people in Khulna’s Koyra, Dakop, Paikgasa, and Satkhira’s Shyamnagar, Assasuni, and the coastal areas of Bagerhat awake through the night.
Residents Akhtaruzzaman and Billal Hossain of Gobra village in Koyra, who live near the embankment, recounted how their homes were washed away during Cyclone Aila when the Ghatakhali embankment broke. They spent almost two months in shelters before building makeshift homes on the embankment itself. Even 15 years later, they have not been able to return to their original homes and are now in fear due to Cyclone Remal.
Koyra’s Dakshin Bedkashi Union Parishad Chairman Md. Aser Ali Moral noted that the areas from Ghorilal to Charamukha Ferry Ghat and from the ferry ghat to Haldibunia are particularly vulnerable.
Shaheen Alam, a resident of Shyamnagar in Satkhira, stated that most embankments in his union are in poor condition, with one collapsing just a few days ago, causing significant anxiety among the locals.
Md. Salauddin, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board-1 in Satkhira, confirmed that while 30 kms of embankments are at risk, a mega project is underway in Gabura, and they are prepared to address any immediate issues.
Md. Ashraful Alam, Executive Engineer of Khulna Water Development Board (Division-2), stated that out of 630 kms of embankments in his area, 10 kms are vulnerable, and they are ready to take emergency measures if needed.
Khulna District Commissioner Khandaker Yasir Arefin informed UNB that 604 cyclone shelters have been readied, capable of accommodating 315,180 people. Additionally, three Mujib Killas can shelter 430 people and 560 livestock. A total of 5,280 volunteers are prepared to assist in Koyra, Dakop, and Paikgasa upazilas.
shelters, medical teams ready in Ctg
In preparation for Cyclone Remal, 500 shelters and 290 medical teams have been kept prepared in Chattogram, said the District Disaster Management Committee.
The decision to keep those shelters and teams prepared was made at an emergency meeting of the committee held last night.
Furthermore, the Fire Service and Civil Defence has cancelled the leave of all officials and employees from nine stations, mobilizing 270 personnel for immediate response. A special control room has also been formed at Agrabad Fire Service Station in the port city.
Rakib Hasan, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) of Chattogram district administration, informed that around 500 shelters were being prepared, 290 medical teams were formed, and all executive officers and local union chairpersons and members in the coastal areas of Chattogram were on high alert.
According to the Civil Surgeon’s Office, a medical team has been assigned to each union, five teams to each upazila health complex, and five teams are on standby at Chattogram General Hospital.
Dr Md. Elias Chowdhury, district Civil Surgeon, said that 200 teams at the union level, 75 teams across 15 upazila health complexes, nine teams at urban dispensaries, one team for school health, and five teams at the general hospital were formed to face the impact of the cyclonic storm.
Moreover, all doctors, officers, and employees under the Civil Surgeon’s Office have been instructed to remain at their posts while an emergency control room has also been opened, he said.
Dinmoni Sharma, Deputy Director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defense, informed that the fire service has started operations in various coastal areas.
Announcements are being made through loudspeakers urging residents to move to safe locations before the storm hits. Operations in the city will commence based on weather conditions, he said, adding that 270 fire personnel across nine stations are prepared, with all leaves cancelled.
The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm Saturday night, with the name 'Remal.' The cyclone is predicted to make landfall today, affecting the coasts of Bangladesh and India’s West Bengal.
The Meteorological Department reported that the depression has been moving north and northeast at 15 kilometres per hour over the past six hours.
Gaining strength over the sea before hitting the coast between Khepupara, Bangladesh, and Sagar Island, West Bengal, it will hit with speeds of 110 to 120 kilometers per hour, with wind gusts reaching up to 135 kilometers per hour.
