The cyclone Bulbul, categorised as severe cyclonic storm, made its landfall at Khulna coastal region of the country on Saturday night.
The devastating cyclone damaged a portion of Mongla Port and destroyed a number of numerous homesteads and croplands spreading across the coastal region of the district, said officials and locals.
Sources said rainband of the cyclone hit Dublar Char inside the Sundarbans at first in the district at 6:00 pm and continued its destruction for next several hours across the coast.
On Saturday evening, Dublar Char Fishermen Group’s Chairman Kamal Uddin Ahmed told our Khulna correspondent over the phone: “It seems that Bulbul is going to be as destructive as Sidr of 2007. A rain storm with heavy winds have started passing over the Char at 6:00 PM.”
“More than 6,000 people have been sheltered in three cyclone shelters. Dwellers of the fishing villages of the Char have been sent to the centres almost forcefully,” he added.
The severe cyclonic storm Bulbul crossed the country’s southwest coast on Saturday night with winds reaching 120-140 kmph and heavy to very heavy rainfalls under the influence of the storm.
Bulbul, one of the strongest storms in recent times damaged scores of houses and croplands, uprooted trees and washed away ponds.
The sky over the country remained overcast throughout the day because of the cyclonic storm and the rainfall it brought along is still occurring at many places.
However, no loss of life or any injury has been reported so far till filing of this report at 9pm on Saturday.
The storm triggered heavy rainfall in coastal districts of Bhola, Patualkhali, Satkhira, Noakhali and Bagerhat.
Besides, capital Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram, Rajshahi, and Sylhet divisions have also experienced moderate to heavy rain since morning due to the severe cyclonic storm Bulbul.
On the other hand, when the cyclone was crossing the country, the low-lying areas of the southwest coastal regions were inundated by storm surge of 5-7 feet high above normal astronomical tide.
The coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Bhola, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagerhat and their offshore islands and chars were battered by wind speed upto 100-120 kmph in gusts/squalls with heavy to very heavy rainfalls under the influence of the storm.
Earlier in the morning on Saturday, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) issued great danger signal number 10 for Mongla and Payra maritime ports.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) today issued great danger signal number 10 for Mongla and Payra maritime ports and 9 for Chattogram port as very severe cyclonic storm ‘Bulbul’ was moving in a North/Northeasterly direction.
Coastal districts of Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, and Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars have been advised to hoist great danger signal number 10, said a BMD bulletin issued early morning today here.
Besides, the Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars have come under great danger signal no 9.
The bulletin said under the influence of the very severe cyclonic storm ‘Bulbul’ and the moon phase, the low lying areas of districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barishal, , Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surges with 5-7 feet high swells above normal astronomical tide.
Read More: Govt to build cyclone centres in 74 upazilas
