Water transport services suspended as cyclone nears

Plying of all types of water transport services across the country were suspended by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) on Thursday as cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ intensifies near the coast.

Holidays of the BITWA officials and employees were also cancelled, BIWTA public relations officer Mobarak Hossain Majumder said.

The decisions were taken in an emergency meeting at the BITWA conference room around 10:00am. It was presided over by BIWTA chairman Commodore M Mahbubul Islam. The decisions will remain in effect till the weather condition improves, he said.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has taken preparations at 19 coastal districts ahead of the calamity.

Khulna and adjoining southwestern coastal areas will feel the peripheral effect of 'Fani' by Friday morning, the meteorological office said, advising Mongla and Payra ports to display danger signal number seven.

These two ports were asked to hoist signal four earlier. Today Chattogram port was asked to hoist signal six instead of four.

Though Fani approached slowly, it is now quite intensified and its speed has increased, Shamsuddin Ahmed, director of weather department, said, adding that the storm may hit Bangladesh earlier than 4 May.

Coastal districts of Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal number seven, the weather office added.

The very severe cyclonic storm was 915km southwest of Mongla port and 925km Southwest of Payra port at 9:00am on Thursday.

Source: Prothom Alo