The cyclone Bulbul has intensified into a category 2 cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal and is moving towards Bangladesh and India’s West Bengal with a wind speed of 100 kilometres per hour.
Met office said on Friday (Nov 8) that the cyclone might intensify further and lash the coastal areas on Saturday, inflicting huge damage on crops and property.
World Meteorological Organization has described the cyclone as ‘very severe’.
Cox’s Bazar Met office in-charge Md Abdur Rahman said the storm was 645 kilometres away from the Cox’s Bazar coast on Friday. “It might hit the Bangladesh coast with a wind speed of 100 kilometres per hour.”
The cyclone was 450 kilometres away from West Bengal’s Sagardwip, 310 kilometres from Paradip and 550 kilometres from Bangladesh’s Khepupara.
The cyclonic storm has left the sea rough and caused rain in coastal districts, including Barisal, Khulna and Patuakhali, on Friday leading to a decline in temperature.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman said the government has taken all-out preparations to tackle the cyclone.
It has canceled leaves of officials and employees of 22 ministries and Upazila-level government employees to tackle cyclone Bulbul.
“Instruction has been given to prepare the cyclone centres in the coastal areas. Instruction has also been given to send 2,000 packets of dried food and Tk 500,000 in cash to every centre,” he said.