Distress signal from midnight, may hit on Sunday

Cyclone 'Remal' is approaching. By Sunday (May 26) evening, the cyclone may hit Khulna, Satkhira and Chittagong coasts of the country. Because of this, a disaster signal may be issued from midnight on Saturday. From Satkhira to Cox's Bazar in Chittagong may be more or less affected by the cyclone. A tidal surge of 7 to 10 feet is possible. There will be heavy rainfall in these areas. As a result, landslides may also occur in the hilly areas of Chittagong.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief. Mohibbur Rahman gave this information to the journalists after the preparatory meeting to deal with the possible cyclone situation at the Secretariat on Saturday (May 25).

He said, in coordination with Bangladesh Meteorological Department and other countries of the world, we have understood that the cyclone is imminent. By Sunday, it may cross the land between Khulna's Satkhira and Chittagong's Cox's Bazar. That's why there is now number 1 remote warning signal. The signal will move to 3 in a few hours. It (warning signal) is likely to go over 4 in the night. At night, the danger level may go down, especially between 12:00 and 1:00 a.m. It may issue a number 10 emergency signal.

Mohibbur Rahman informed that after reviewing the forecast of the Meteorological Department, all preparations are being made to deal with the cyclone, we have 80 thousand volunteers ready. We have taken all the preparations. I have started working accordingly. Necessary instructions have been given to the District Administrators.

He said, we have about 4000 shelters in the coastal district. We have prepared them. For food, we have stocked enough dry food in warehouses in each district. We have made preparations so that we can provide more supplies from Dhaka if necessary.

Director of Meteorological Department present at the meeting. Azizur Rahman said that the cyclone may start crossing the coast of Bangladesh after 6 pm on Sunday. It can complete crossing the coast by 12 pm today. The front of the cyclone may touch the coast from Sunday afternoon. The cyclone is likely to make landfall mainly between India's Sagar Island and Patuakhali's Khepupara in Bangladesh. 30 percent of the cyclone could hit land in India and 70 percent in Bangladesh.

The director of the Meteorological Department said that the size of the entire cyclone may be 400 to 500 km, “Remal” may cross the land as a strong cyclone. I don't see it being overpowering. Its maximum wind speed can reach 130 kilometers per hour during landfall. So far we are seeing it as a severe cyclone.

By Saturday evening, the deep depression may turn into a cyclone, the director of the Meteorological Department said, if it turns into a cyclone, we can issue 5/6/7 danger signal. Distress signals (8, 9 and 10) may be issued later. But later we will issue it according to the situation. So far it is moving north and north-east. After becoming a cyclonic storm, it may turn north towards Bangladesh from this evening onwards. The deep depression is now moving at a speed of 15 to 20 kmph.