A low-pressure over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression by Friday afternoon, making the Bay and adjacent Meghna River turbulent and causing water levels to rise, prompting Noakhali's Hatiya administration to suspend all waterway communications with the rest of the country from Friday evening.
Mishu, a local from Hatiya's Chairman Ghat area, said: "All speedboats and trawlers have stopped operating at Hatiya's ghat. Although some trawlers were running yesterday (Friday) in the rain, the river's condition has worsened on Saturday. As a result, all passenger trawlers, both big and small, have been halted since morning."
As the tide levels rose, strong winds began sweeping across the riverbank areas.
Due to the rough weather, seven fishing trawlers capsized in the Bay of Bengal, near Hatiya, Noakhali’s remote island upazila.
So far, 30 fishermen and crew members have been rescued alive from the trawlers, but many others remain missing.
Acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer Milton Chakma said: "We are receiving reports of trawler capsizing incidents from different ghats via mobile phones. We are gathering more information."
“Fishermen who have returned said many crew members are still missing. We have already contacted the river police and coast guard for assistance," he added.
