The government on Monday suspended operations at all of the country's major ports as well as types of water transport services in preparation for the arrival of Cyclone Sitrang.
Md Omar Faruq, secretary of the Chittagong Port Authority, on Monday said distress signal no 6 and special caution alert-3 had been raised at the port. As a result, all operations at Chittagong Port had been suspended.
The port has taken all necessary preparations to deal with the cyclone, and vessels at the outer anchorage were directed to relocate to a secure harbour, he added.
All ships had been evacuated from the jetty, Faruq further said.
Operations at the Mongla and Payra ports were also suspended after they were advised to raise danger signal no 7. Thirteen foreign commercial vessels stationed in Harbaria Canal of Mongla port were taken to safe locations and kept on alert, while inland water vessels were moved upstream of the Khulna/Bhairab river.
Mongla Port's own vessels were kept in existing berths on two tiers. Containers and other cargo inside the port's jetty area were neatly stacked on single tiers to protect them from the effects of the cyclone, while cargo handling equipment was properly stowed in the equipment yard.
Leave for all officials, employees, doctors, and nurses was cancelled to deal with any eventuality in light of the storm.
The decisions were taken at an emergency meeting presided over by Mongla Port Authority chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa.
“In order to keep the port channel safe, the domestic cargoes and lighterages have been moved out of the channel. Besides, initiatives have been taken to keep Navy and Coast Guard ships in a safe position at the port jetty,” said Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa.
Trawlers flout danger signal no 7 at Mongla port
Even though the Bangladesh Meteorological Department had advised all maritime ports to keep danger signals hoisted, passenger vessels were reportedly still operating at the Mongla Port area yesterday.
Multiple trawlers were seen leaving ghats with passengers, as well fishing trawlers, reports Bangla Tribune.
Sakhawat Akon, a boatman, said that he had made at least 20 trips since the morning. “Most of the passengers were female. They all work in the EPZ,” he said.
When asked why he had brought out his trawler in this stormy weather he said: “There is no alternative as we don't have any food at home. I will have to buy essentials with whatever I can earn.”
Agreeing with him, another boatman, Ibrahim Hossain, said that fear does not work when there is hunger. “We are helpless before it,” he said.
Khalilur Rahman, member of “Mongla Majhi Malla Sangha”, said that they could not do anything about the cyclone.
About 160 boatmen were operating on the river with 20 trawlers. “They were also forced to work as they had to provide food for their family.”
Hundreds of women workers were returning from the EPZ at 1:30pm through trawlers. Among them, Rina Begum and BIlkis Akhter said If they did not go to the factory, their attendance would not have been counted.
Executive Director of Mongla EPZ Mahbub Ahmed Siddiq told Bangla Tribune: "We have asked all the factories to close after receiving the warning letter [yesterday] afternoon. All the factories are now closed.”
Mongla Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kamlesh Majumder said that everyone had been requested to go to the shelter after the danger signal was issued. “Besides, all the boats were ordered to stop operating in the morning, including the ferries,” he said.
“If we see any trawlers operating in this weather, we will take action,” he added.
Meanwhile, coastal residents have been rushing to the 103 shelters since Monday morning.
The Mongla district administration has arranged dry food for them. Three separate control rooms have been opened by the Mongla port authority, municipality and upazila administration.
The cyclone is expected to make landfall near Barisal on Tuesday.
