The well-marked low over southeast Bay and adjoining south Andaman Sea intensified into a depression over the same area on Saturday.
“It is likely to intensify further and move in a northwesterly direction,” Bangladesh Meteorological Department said in a special bulletin.
Due to the weather event, the Met office also asked the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra to hoist distant cautionary signal number 1.
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The depression was situated about 1,425km south of Chattogram port, 1,340km south of Cox’s Bazar port, 1,460km south-southeast of Mongla port, and 1,405km south-southeast of Payra port at 12 noon, the bulletin said.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 44km of the depression centre is about 40km per hour rising to 50km per hour in gusts. Sea will remain moderate near the weather system, it said.
All fishing boats and trawlers over the north Bay and deep sea have been advised to come close to the coast and proceed with caution.
Earlier on Thursday, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman said a cyclonic storm, supposed to be named as ‘Ashani’ following its formation, is likely to make landfall on the Bangladesh coast.
“The cyclone may hit Satkhira district after trailing through Indian states Odisha and West Bengal,” he said after a meeting at the secretariat concerning the cyclone preparedness.
Enamur said that Bangladesh is taking preparations to tackle the natural calamity.
