The deep depression over Southeast Bay and adjoining areas has moved northwestwards and intensified into cyclonic storm Asani over the same area.
At 6am on Sunday, it was centred about 1,255km south-southwest of Chittagong port, 1,175km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 1,250km south of Mongla port and 1,205km south of Payra port.
It is likely to intensify further and move in a northwesterly direction, said a Met office bulletin.
The maximum sustained wind speed within 54km of the cyclonic storm centre is about 62kph rising to 88kph in gusts or squalls.
The sea will remain very rough near the cyclonic centre.
The maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist Distant Warning Signal No 2 instead of Distant Cautionary Signal No 1.
Distant Warning Signal No 2 means a storm has formed with a wind speed of 62-88 km/hour in the distant deep sea. Ships may fall into danger if they leave harbour.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution.
Cyclone Asani is set to further intensify by two stages by Monday morning. It is likely to strengthen into a very severe cyclonic storm and remain over the east-central Bay of Bengal region.
The storm will reach close to India’s Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast by Tuesday. It is unlikely to make a landfall and it could skirt the coastal districts of these states during the next two days.
There is a possibility that the storm might later move over Satkhira area.
If realised, Cyclone Asani could trace a similar path like Cyclone Jawad that developed in the Bay of Bengal and swerved past close to south Odisha in December last year.
Rain and thunder showers are likely in eight divisions.
According to a regular weather bulletin, rain or thunder showers with intense lightning flashes and temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at one or two places in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions.
Bangladesh is a country that is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and weather events are not very uncommon here.
In May 2020, Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan caused widespread damage in Bangladeshi coastal areas.
All major maritime ports of Bangladesh were asked to hoist Great Danger Signal Number 10.
As the country braced for impacts, no less than 2.4 people were evacuated to around 15,000 cyclone shelters across the country.
The cyclone left people in despair as they lost their households and livelihood with little opportunity to recover. The sufferings are yet to be over.
People of the coastal areas had to suffer twice as much as they for months they had to live near embarkments in different districts.
They also faced a severe drinking water crisis as the areas were inundated by saline water after the cyclone.
On top of that, Amphan also came at a time when Bangladesh was struggling to handle the Covid-19 pandemic.