A sattelite image of Mahasen.
Cyclone Mahasen is moving towards the coastal areas of the country from over southeast Bay and adjoining southwest Bay on Tuesday.
It might hit Bangladesh any time on Wednesday and might also move towards the coasts of Indian Orissa, Shamsuddin Ahmed, a duty forecasting officer of Meteorological Department of Bangladesh, told The Daily Star around 10:30am.
Transitional speed of Mahasen was 10 kilometres per hour, he added.
Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Mongla have been advised to keep hoisted local warning signal number four, said a special bulletin of Met office.
It was centred about 1,155 kms south southwest of Chittagong port and 1,085 kms south southwest of Cox’s Bazar port.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kms of the storm centre is about 62 kph rising to 88 kph in gusts/ squalls. Sea will remain very rough near the storm centre.
All fishing boats, trawlers and marine vessels over north Bay and deep sea have been advised to come close to the coast and remain near the coast so that they can take shelter within short notice.
Our Cox’s Bazar correspondent reports, it was drizzling in the district since morning following the impact of Mahasen.
District administration has taken all-out preparation to face the cyclonic storm, said Mohammad Ruhul Amin, deputy commissioner of Cox’s Bazar.
Local health department has been cancelled holiday of its staff until the crisis over, said Dr Kajal Kanti, civil surgeon of Cox’s Bazar.
Meanwhile, unloading of cargo vessels at the outer anchorage of Chittagong Port has remained suspended since Monday afternoon, said Water Transport Cell (WTC), an organisation that coordinates lighter vessels.
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) declared security alerts for the port. However, loading and unloading of 11 vessels berthed at the port jetties were going on Tuesday morning, reports our Chittagong correspondent.
A total of 25 lighter vessels had been brought in to the river Karnaphuli from the outer anchorage.
Source: The Daily Star