On Saturday, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said cyclone Sitrang is likely to make landfall in Bangladesh on Tuesday with wind speed of 110 km per hour, that may hit Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra. Having this news, the refugees living in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasanchar are highly worried about their safety.
BDM said, “The cyclone formed over the Andaman Sea and adjoining areas has intensified into a low pressure. And that low pressure has started increasing its strength after reaching the Bay of Bengal. It may turn into Cyclone Sitrang next Monday (October 24). The depression will turn into a stronger cyclone.”
On Tuesday (October 25), Cyclone Sitrang will be intensified towards the coast. The exact direction of the cyclone is not yet known, meteorological department said.
According to the latest weather forecast, the depression will reach the southeast of the Bay of Bengal on Saturday (October 22). After that by tomorrow it will become a deep depression and by Tuesday it will become Cyclone Sitrang and reach the West Bengal-Bangladesh coast. And when the cyclone enters the land, the wind speed will be 100 to 110 km per hour.
Under the influence of low pressure, rainfall may start in the country along with gales blowing in the coastal areas in the next two days, said BDM.
Biswajit Chowdhury, Meteorological Forecasting Officer said that the low pressure has not yet had an impact. However, the weather conditions may deteriorate in the next 72 hours. Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra seaports have been asked to carefully monitor further instructions for low pressure. Fishing boats and trawlers operating in North Bay of Bengal have been asked to proceed with caution. They have also been told not to wander in the deep sea.
Abdul Karim a refugee from Kutupalong camp said, “Our shelters are made of bamboos and plastic tent, which will blow up in the sky with wind. As a natural disaster likely to landfall, we have to take pre-preparation to face it.”
A refugee from Bhasanchar said, “Our shelters are in an island, called Bhasanchar which is far for kilometers from main land of Chittagong. If cyclone hits Bhasanchar, our shelters certainly will be inundated.”
