The Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management, Chattogram Port Authorities (CPA), Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and all the district administrations of the coastal areas have taken cautionary measures to tackle the Cyclone Mocha apprehended to hit today (Friday) as a severe cyclone.
Apart from four separate control to monitor the cyclone, around 1,531 cyclone shelter centres have been prepared so that people of the coastal area could take shelter there.
Red flags have been hoisted on the beaches. Visitors have been warned not to go more than knee-deep water.
Elsewhere, Cox's Bazar's Bakkhali river estuary is lined with fishing boats and trawlers. Fishermen who had made all the preparations to ensure a good haul of fishing were now returning to land one by one.
General Secretary of Cox's Bazar District Fishing Boat Owners Association Delwar Hossain said the trawlers which are still at sea will return when the danger signal, currently at two, is hoisted further. So far, 3,000 trawlers are anchored on the coast and around 2,000 are still out at sea.
The Department of Meteorology predicts Cyclone Mocha to hit Cox's Bazar on Sunday. Preparations are already underway to meet what may be a severe cyclonic storm.
Cox's Bazar District Administrator Muhammad Shaheen Imran said the Cox's Bazar district administration has set up control rooms in all upazilas. Some 576 shelters, including all cyclone shelters and schools in the coastal areas of the district, have been kept ready.
Sleepless nights in Bagerhat
Meanwhile, residents of Sharankhola, Baleshwar, Pashur in Mongla and Panguchhi in Morelganj upazilas of Bagerhat district are passing sleepless nights, worrying over when and where the storm and high tide will hit, exposing the vulnerabilities of many dykes which need repairs.
At least 446 cyclone shelters have been prepared in the district to accommodate people while 98% of boro paddy has been harvested in the district.
Besides hearing about Cyclone Mocha, farmers have already harvested their boro paddy; 98% of the paddy has been harvested in the district.
Port to open control room if danger signal reaches 4
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) will open a control room if the danger signal reaches four. Currently, the signal stands at two.
Secretary of Chittagong Port Authority Md Omar Farooq said there is a preparatory plan based on the signal of the weather department. Further action will be decided following a Standing Committee meeting.
In a special notification of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payara seaports have been asked to show warning signal number 2.
Ataul Kabir, director (Operation) of Water Transport Cell, said operations will be halted if the sea becomes rough.
Chittagong port activates a control room when Alert 2-is issued. When Alert-3 is issued, all types of vessels are moved from the jetty to open anchorage.
Khulna considered safe for now
The Khulna local administration has kept 409 cyclone centres prepared for sheltering 2,73,850 people.
Abdul Karim, district relief and rehabilitation officer, said the upazila level officials were asked to remain in their respective workplaces and take precautionary measures.
They were also asked to take steps to inform people about the danger signal through loudspeakers.
Regarding cyclone preparations, state minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman on Wednesday said, "We are acting in accordance with the SOD [Standing Orders on Disasters]. I have communicated with field personnel. The forecast indicates that Cox's Bazaar is the most vulnerable. Most at risk are the low-lying areas of St. Martin Island and Teknaf."
Enamur Rahman said the authorities will start moving people to cyclone shelters if the cyclone danger signal reaches 5, 6 or 7.
The state minister said the army, the navy and the coastguard are also ready.
"We hope to bring down the loss of life and property to zero [if it strikes]," he said.
Moreover, the Ministry of Water Resources and Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) launched two separate control rooms to deal with various issues centring Cyclone Mocha.
All information and services related to the cyclone will be available in the emergency numbers – 01318-234560 for the ministry's control room and 01775-480075 for the BWDB, said a press release on Thursday (May 11).
A meeting was held at the water resources ministry today presided over by Additional Secretary Md Nurul Alam.
During the meeting, authorities concerned have been asked to remain alert amid the potential threat of the cyclone impacting the southern, south-western, and south-eastern regions of the country.
Officials of the Water Development Board have been instructed to visit areas prone to damage due to the cyclone.