Staff Reporter :
All flights to and from Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Barisal and Jashore, launch services on all routes and ferry services on Shimulia-Kathalbari route of Padma river have been suspended due to inclement weather triggered by the cyclone “Bulbul”, which may hit coastal areas in Khulna after on Saturday evening.
Flight operation have completely suspended from 4:00pm on Saturday to 6:00am on Sunday, sources at the airports told the media.
The authorities of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) issued a notice in the issue of suspended launce service on Friday night, said AKM Arif Uddin, the joint director of Dhaka River Port Authority. He said the decision was taken considering the safety and security of the people.
BIWTC suspended the ferry services around 3:15pm, said Safayet Ahmed, manager (commerce) of BIWTC at Shimulia ghat in Munshiganj.
Besides, plying of launch and speedboats on the Shimulia-Kathalbari route remains suspended since on Saturday morning over the same reason, he added.
The BIWTC authorities allowed partial operation of ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia route following the inclement weather, Zillur Rahman, deputy general manager of BIWTC at Paturia ghat, told the media.
Only 10, out of 17, ferries are plying the route at present, Zillur Rahman added.
In a special weather bulletin, the Met Office said ‘Bulbul’ intensified further and lied over Northwest Bay and adjoining west-central Bay at 3am. It was about 380km southwest of Mongla port, 395km southwest of Payra port, 545km southwest of Chattogram port, and 520km southwest of Cox’s Bazar port.
It is likely to intensify further and hit Bangladesh’s coastal regions by on Saturday evening, the Met Office said.
Under the influence of the very severe cyclone storm and the moon phase, low-lying coastal areas are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 5-7 feet height above normal astronomical tide. The government has opened cyclone shelters and cancelled holidays of its staff in 13 coastal districts to face cyclone ‘Bulbul’.
