Bangladesh News

Daylong drizzle coupled with cold winds disrupted life in the capital and elsewhere as a well-marked low over the Bay of Bengal grew into a depression yesterday.

Met office in Dhaka predicted that the squally weather conditions may continue for a couple of days with the depression threatening to strengthen further.

In a special bulletin, it said the low, formed over the west-central Bay and adjoining northwest Bay, has been moving north-westerly after becoming a depression.

“Under the influence, heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur at places across Chittagong, Barisal, Khulna and Dhaka divisions during the next 24 hours,” read the Met office warning issued yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile, a launch carrying 40 passengers aboard overturned in Meghna in Hatia. However, no casualties were reported in the capsize.

The drizzly weather caused long tailbacks on the city streets even on the weekend (Saturday).

The labourers were forced to stay indoors. Malls and kitchen markets that usually have more sales at weekends saw a small number of buyers yesterday.

People suffered as rickshaws, autorickshaws and taxis charged way more than usual rates. Pedestrians had trouble walking on sidewalks and roads and many found their clothes mud-splattered.

Things were even worse in coastal areas. Launch services on Barisal-Bhola-Laxmipur-Chittagong route were suspended while those on inland water routes were restricted to short distances pending improvement of weather.

Fishing boats and trawlers on northern Bay and deep sea have been advised to come ashore immediately.

Around noon, the depression was about 870 km southwest off Chittagong port, 815 km southwest off Cox’s Bazar and 735 km south-southwest off Mongla port.

Maximum sustained speed of wind within 44 kms of the depression centre was about 40 KPH, rising to 50 KPH in gusts or squalls.

The river port authorities in Barisal issued cautionary signal No. 2 in the morning while Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Mongla ports have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number three.

Our Barisal correspondent reports: The local Met office recorded 63 mm rainfall in nine hours since 6:00am yesterday with wind speed up to 10 nautical miles an hour and humidity ranging between 95 and 100%.

Rafikul Islam, deputy director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, told The Daily Star that plying of vessels on inland waterways has been restricted to less than 65 feet on 76 routes including 28 inner routes of Barisal, 13 routes of Barguna and 14 routes of Bhola.

Agriculture extension department officials said though rain gave people some relief from sweltering heat, it damaged seedlings of winter vegetables across the southern districts, much to the frustration of small growers.

Our Noakhali correspondent quoting an agent at Nalchia Launch Ghat in Hatia reported that the launch, MV Bahauddin, sank near Chairman Ghat at 10:00am.

Fishing boats nearby went to the passengers’ rescue immediately.