Dhaka, June 10 – A low over the Bay of Bengal whipped up widespread rainfall across Bangladesh on Sunday ending several days of sweltering heat that caused much discomfort to devotees who are fasting the holy month of Ramadan. The showers appear to comprise the first spell of the SouthWest Monsoon that has started setting in. The heavy downpour caused by the law has already caused landslide disrupting the road communication between Ukhia and Cox’s bazaar. In the hill district of Rangamati at least 15,000 people are living under the risk of a landslide which killed 120 people last year.
For the 700000 Rohingya refugees who are at thatched shelters in Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar will find the rainy season inhospitable as the shelters are not adequate to protect them from rain and storm.
UNB reported: The road communication between Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf remained suspended since Sunday morning following a landslide due to heavy monsoon rainfall caused by a low in the Bay of Bengal.
According to another report, At least 15,000 people from 3,378 families are living at risk from landslides in the hilly areas in the south-eastern district of Rangamati.
The district administration of Rangamati has identified 609 families from several wards in the district who are living in areas at severe risk of landslides.
The local administration has made a list of several dangerous areas in the hill district for the first time after 120 people were killed last year after landslides due to heavy rain.
This year the local administration has taken additional measures, marking danger zones ahead of the impending monsoon season.
A large chunk of mud collapsed on the road in Thangkhali area around 5 am, said Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Rabiul Hasan.
Earlier on Saturday, maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal no three as the well-marked low over North Bay and adjoining area lies over Northeast Bay and adjoining coastal areas of the country.
BSS adds: River ports in several districts across the country have been asked to hoist cautionary signal number two as rain accompanied with gusty or squally wind is likely to occur in many places in 12 hours till 6 pm today.
According to a warning issued by Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Sunday, the river ports in these districts should hoist cautionary signal number two as rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary South or South-Easterly gusty or squally wind speed 60-80 kph is likely to occur in many places over the country during the same period.
The districts are Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Comilla, Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar and, it added.
Meanwhile, rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary south or south-easterly gusty or squally wind speed 45-60 kph is likely to occur elsewhere over the country wherein river ports shall hoist cautionary signal number one. – GW News Desk
