Under the influence of the cyclone, low-lying areas of the coastal districts are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 5-7 feet height above normal astronomical tide, the Met Office said.
Locals alleged that a group of shrimp farmers set up pipes under the embankments to get salt water from the river. They demanded immediate renovation of the embankments.
River embankments of Koyra and Dacope upazilas in Khulna, Shyamnagar and Ashasuni in Satkhira and some parts of Bagerhat districts have become more vulnerable.
Belal Hossain, No 3 ward member of Koyra upazila, said some points of the embankments are at risk. “People are panicked, fearing that the villages may go under water any time after ‘Bulbul’ hits,” he said.
Payra and Mongla’s maritime ports were advised to hoist great danger signal no 10 in the morning.
Imtiaz Uddin, general secretary of Koyra Development Coordination Committee, said the people of the area may be hit by floods any time.
The district administrations of Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira have taken steps to face ‘Bulbul’. A total of 853 cyclone shelters have been opened.
Meanwhile, people from the coastal regions started heading to shelters from Friday evening because of the fast-approaching cyclone.