The met office has issued danger signal seven for the country’s two maritime ports – Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong due to formation of cyclonic strom 'Komen' in the Bay of Bengal.
Maritime ports of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar have been advised to local warning signal number four earlier in the evening but raised the signal to danger alert number seven, met office confirmed.
According to the met office, a cyclonic storm ‘Komen’ which was centered at 9pm on Wednesday is gathering more strength to hit Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong.
Komen is gathering its strength about 110-kilometer southwest of Chittagong port, 105-kilometer west-northwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 170 kilometer southeast of Mongla port.
The cyclone is likely to move north in early direction and may pass through Bangladesh coastal area of Barisal and Chittagong by noon or afternoon on Thursday. Under its influence a squally weather has been continuing over North Bay and adjoining coastal areas and maritime ports, the met office informed.
The met office bulletin reads, apart from Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar, the Met office also advised danger signal number seven for Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Bhola and their offshore islands.
Coastal districts such as Barguna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands were also advised to hoist danger signal No. 5.
All educational institutions of Cox’s Bazar district has been declared closed and shelter places due to the depression created in the Bay of Bengal.
The administration has started to move people to safer places, said Cox’s Bazar acting Deputy Commissioner Dr Anupam Saha.
Meanwhile, all out preparation has been taken to tackle the situation, he told reporters at a press meet held on Wednesday night at his office.
The met office in its special weather bulletin issued on 6pm on Wednesday said the location of the depression was about 140 kilometers southwest of Chittagong port, 125 kilometers southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 160 kilometers south west of Mongla port and 80 kilometers Southeast of Payra port.
The depression is moving to Cox’s Bazar with a speed of 50-60 kilometers per hour, said AKM Nazmul Haq, assistant meteorological official of Cox’s Bazar office.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the depression will hit the country's land between Barisal and Chittagong coast by Thursday afternoon.
Under its influence squally weather that includes very heavy rainfall may affect North Bay, adjoining coastal area of Bangladesh and Maritime ports.
It also said the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Bhola, Barisal, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, Pirozpur, Borguna, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by wind driven surge of 3-4 feet height above normal astronomical tide.
Due to the very heavy rainfall, landslides may occur at the places over the hilly regions of Chittagong division, the bulletin also said.
The met office also advised all fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay to remain in shelter till further notice.