Cyclone Remal is likely to hit southern districts of Bangladesh by Sunday (May 26) evening, a meteorologist of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said on Saturday night.

“Under the influence of cyclone, Bangladesh, particularly its southern and southeastern regions may witness heavy to very heavy rainfall,” said Director General of Department of Disaster Management Mizanur Rahman.

Referring to the data of the Met Office, he said as large size of radius of the cyclone has been developed and significant rainfall may occur in 19 costal districts side by side central parts of the country.

As the cyclonic storm is approaching towards the coastal regions of Bangladesh, much of southern parts may witness rainfall from Saturday night, Mizanur added.

He said the government has taken all necessary preparations to handle any destructive situation caused by the cyclone.

The DG also said the authorities already directed all relevant organizations alongside involving 78,000 volunteers for launching massive evacuation drive to shift vulnerable populations to safer places.

Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number three lowering distant cautionary signal number in the wake of the deep depression over the North Bay, a special weather bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said today.

The deep depression over East central bay and adjoining west central bay moved northwards over the same area (near lat: 18.2on, lon: 89.8oe) and was centered at 12 noon today about 500 kms southwest of Chattogram port, 435 kms southwest of Cox’s Bazer port, 475 kms south of Mongla port and 425 kms south of Payra port, it added.

All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to take shelter immediately.

The deep depression over eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwards with a speed of 11 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 12noon of 25th may, 2024 over the same region near latitude 18.2on and longitude 89.7oe, about 420 km south of Khepupara, about 420 km south-southeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and 460 km south-southeast of canning ( West Bengal), according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).