State Minister for Disaster
Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman today said
over eight lakh people were evacuated to cyclone centres
and other safer places, as the severe cyclone Remal may hit
Bangladesh coastline between 6pm and midnight today.
‘We have taken all necessary measures on an urgent basis to
tackle the severe cyclonic storm . . . all relevant
organizations have been asked to work in a coordinated
manner to face the cyclone,’ he made the comments at a
press briefing held at his ministry here.
He said the authorities today launched an intensified
evacuation campaign to take all vulnerable people to safety
as the met office asked Payra and Mongla ports to hoist great
danger signal no 10 while it issued nine for Cox’s Bazar and
Chattogram ports this morning.
‘We are hoping that we will be able to bring all vulnerable
people living in 19 districts to the cyclone centres before the
landfall of the cyclone,’ the state minister said.
‘A large scale evacuation has started after the Me
t Office
issued danger signal number 10 and nine. All vulnerable
people are presumed to be moved to safer places at the
shortest possible time,” Director General of Department of
Disaster Management Mizanur Rahman told BSS.
Alongside evacuation of the people, domestic animals have
been taken to designated cyclone shelters, the disaster
management DG said, adding, “A total of 8,464 cyclone
shelters, including Mujib Kella, have been kept ready to
provide refuge to the people living in 19 costal districts,
which might be affected by the cyclone Remal”.
Sufficient amount of food have been stocked for the people
living in the cyclone centres alongside the people of 19
coastal districts, Mizanur added
He said all upazila and district administrations have
adequate amount of cash to provide prompt response to the
people who will be affected by the cyclone.
“We have also kept ready 1,185 medical teams to offer
urgent healthcare supports to the people as cyclone Rimel
may hit the costal belts of Bang
ladesh with massive
strengthen,” the disaster management chief said.
As cyclone Remal has turned into severe one, it was taking
more time to make landfall, he said, adding, “We have to
manage the cyclone cautiously to minimize its damage.”
The Disaster Management and Relief Ministry sources said a
total of 78,000 volunteers from the Cyclone Preparedness
Program (CPP) have been kept ready to deal with cyclone
‘Remal’ in the coastal district.
It added some 8,600 Red Crescent volunteers and others
joined a campaign asking people at risk to move to safety
alongside the government officials while the district
administration mobilized transport to carry them to the
cyclone shelters.
According to a latest cyclone warning bulletin, the severe
cyclonic storm “Remal” over northwest Bay and adjoining
area moved to northwards over the same area as and it was
about 335 kms southwest of Chattogram port, 315 kms
southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 220 kms south of Mongla port
and 200 kms south of Payra port at
12 noon today.
Under the peripheral effect of the severe cyclone, gusty or
squally wind with rain is continuing over coastal regions of
Bangladesh. It is likely to move in a northerly direction and
may cross Sagar Island west Bengal- Khepupara coast near
Mongla between 3-4 hrs from 6 pm today.
After crossing the center of severe cyclonic storm, rest part
of the system may continue to cross.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 64 km of the severe
cyclone centre is about 90 kph, rising to 120 kph in
gusts/squalls. Sea will remain high near the severe cyclone
centre.
The coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagherhat, Pirojpur,
Jhalokhati, Borguna, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali and their
offshore islands and chars will come under great danger
signal no 10.
The coastal district of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Feni,
Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur and their offshore islands and
chars will come under great danger signal no nine.
River ports of the districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagherhat,
Pirojpur, Jha
lokhati, Borguna, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali,
Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Chattogram, Cox’s
Bazar have been advised to lower riverine danger signal No
three but instead hoist riverine great danger signal no four.
Under the peripheral effect of the severe cyclone and steep
pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts
of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagherhat, Pirojpur, Jhalokhati,
Borguna, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Laxmipur,
Feni. Chandpur, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and their offshore
islands and chars are likely to be inundated by wind-driven
surge of 08-12 feet height above normal astronomical tide.
Under the influence of the cyclone, Rajshahi, Rangpur,
Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and
Sylhet divisions are likely to be experienced of heavy (44-88
mm) to very heavy rainfall with gusty/squally wind.
Due to very heavy rainfall, landslide may occur at places
over the hilly regions of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati,
Khagrachari and Chattogram.
Al
l fishing boats and trawllers over North Bay and deep sea
have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha