As Cyclone Mora nears the Bangladesh coast, loading and unloading operations have been suspended at Chittagong seaport.
The halt was enforced from 10:30am Monday at the jetties and the outer anchorage of the port.
“The decision has been taken as cyclonic storm Mora is heading fast towards Bangladesh’s coasts. Vessels anchored at the jetties have already been sent to outer anchorage to avoid any casualties during the cyclone,” Omar Faruk, secretary of Chittagong Port Authority, told the Dhaka Tribune.
“An emergency meeting was held in the morning regarding the preparations for the possible impact of the cyclone,” he added. “We have taken all necessary measures in this regard.”
Meanwhile, another emergency meeting of disaster management committee was held Monday with Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Zillur Rahman Chowdhury in the chair.
In the meeting, the DC said a total of 479 cyclone shelters with capacity to accommodate 4,45,880 people had been kept ready.
The district administration and civil surgeon have already opened two separate control rooms as part of the preparation to face the cyclone.
Addressing at the emergency meeting, Chittagong DC said that they were on high alert as cyclonic storm “Mora” was heading towards coast.
“The police administration, public representatives, UNOs and volunteers have already begun their activities as a precaution. We are asking the people through loudspeakers and mosques to come to the cyclone shelters,” the DC added.
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Meanwhile, a total of 6,660 volunteers of Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) are also on high alert in Chittagong to face the cyclonic storm.
Civil Surgeon Azizur Rahman Siddique informed that they had already formed a total of 284 medical teams in 14 upazilas of Chittagong.
“Each team consisting of three members, is headed by a doctor. The teams are kept on alert. Their leaves have also been cancelled,” said the Civil Surgeon, adding that the medical stocks were also kept ready.
The Civil Surgeon also asked to contact with the control room (031-634843) in case of any emergency.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Abul Kalam Azad said: “We have 342 tonnes of rice and Tk 672,000 cash in stock.”
“The allocation can be increased if requires,” he added.
Aminul Haque Chowdhury, deputy director of Department of Agricultural Extension, Chittagong said that they also cancelled leaves of their staff until further notice.
“We have also opened a control room and formed a committee to determine the extent of possible damage within 24 hours caused by the cyclonic storm,” Aminul Haque added.
“The Boro crops had already been harvested in Chittagong. The farmers have planted Aus seedlings around 15 days ago over an area of 10,000 hectares in Chittagong. The seedlings have already grown to a height of 3 inches,” added the official.
The port city is witnessing a cloudy weather with drizzling due to the cyclonic storm. The streets of the port city have already taken a deserted look due to less the traffic.