Govt ready to face Cyclone ‘Mocha’

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman has said that the government is prepared to face the potential Cyclone Mocha.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman has said that the government is prepared to face the potential Cyclone Mocha.

He told this to the reporters at a preparatory meeting about the cyclone at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief on Wednesday (May 10) afternoon.

The state minister said, “Reviewing the report, we saw that it is moving towards the north-west. Bangladesh is located an average of 1500 km south of the coast. By May 12, it will turn northeast and pass over Cox’s Bazar district and Myanmar coast. Cyclone speed at the time of impact is likely to be 180-220 kmph.”

He said, “We are prepared from all sides. As we have done every time, we will be able to tackle this cyclone. The army, navy, and coast guard are ready. It may become a super cyclone, according to forecast.”

He further said Cyclone Mocha is expected to strike between the night of Saturday and the morning of Sunday, possibly hitting Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh.

There are particular concerns for the low-lying areas of St Martins Island and potential damage to the homes of Rohingya refugees, he added.

The state minister confirmed that the government has dispatched Tk2 lakh in cash, rice, and dry food to the shelter centres in the Chittagong and Cox's Bazar regions and all vessels have been ordered to return from the deep sea.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the depression was located 1,515 kilometres south of Chittagong seaport, 1,435 kilometres south of Cox’s Bazar seaport, 1,510 kilometres south-southeast of Mongla seaport, and 1,465 kilometres south-southeast of Payra seaport, according to the third special bulletin of the Meteorological Department.