Chattogram port issues its own alarm 4 and ceases operations

The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) issued its own Warning 4 on Sunday morning after the Meteorological Department asked the seaports of Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram to hoist the major danger signal number 9.

Meanwhile, the port of Chattogram, which controls about 92 percent of the country’s import-export trade, has also ceased operations.

Mohammad Omar Faruk, secretary of the Chattogram Port Authority, said alert level 4 has been issued at the port. All operational activities of the port have been suspended. Ships at outer anchorages have also been instructed to pay attention to their safety, stay in constant communication with the port and follow necessary instructions.

Earlier, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) had reported in a special weather bulletin that the cyclonic storm “Remal” had moved northward over the Northwest Bay and the adjacent area and had intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm over the same area.

BMD advised the seaports of Payra and Mongla to hoist major alert signal number ten, while it issued major alert signal number nine for Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar.

The centre of the cyclone was said to be about 400 km southwest of Chattogram port, 360 km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 330 km south of Mongla port and 295 km south of Payra port at 6 pm. It is likely to intensify further and move northwards. It is likely to move in a northerly direction and may cross the coasts of Sagar Islands and Khepupara in West Bengal near Mongla tonight or midnight.