Bay of Bengal
Depression brings drizzles; helps improve Dhaka’s air quality
Dhaka’s air quality showed a slight improvement on Sunday afternoon with the capital city ranking sixth worst in the Air Quality Index (AQI) due to rain triggered by depression in the Bay of Bengal. Dhaka had an AQI score of 159 at 15:22 pm and its air quality was still classified as ‘unhealthy’. Dhaka’s air quality usually turns unhealthy during winter and improves during monsoon. India’s Delhi, Pakistan’s Lahore and China’s Chengdu occupied the top three spots respectively with scores of 187, 179 and 175.
Read:Bay depression triggers drizzle in parts of Bangladesh An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups. AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, is used by government agencies to inform people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone. Depression & drizzles Daylong drizzles disrupted normal life in the capital and some other parts of the country as cyclonic storm ‘Jawad’ weakened into a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal on Sunday. “The Met office has recorded 1 mm rain in the city till 9 am on Sunday and light showers are likely to continue till Monday due to the deep depression,” metrologist Hafizur Rahman told UNB. The day started with a cloudy sky in the capital and people who stepped out of home in the morning without preparations to tackle rains suffered a lot. Commuters had to wait for a long time to manage any transport to go to their respective destinations. Traffic constables were seen too busy controlling traffic as drizzles caused traffic chaos in some areas in the morning. According to a Met office bulletin, “Light to moderate rains or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind are likely to occur at most places over Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Dhaka divisions; and at many places over Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rangpur division with moderately heavy falls at isolated places over the country.” Night temperature may remain nearly unchanged and day temperature may fall slightly over the country.
Maritime ports asked to hoist local cautionary signal No 3
The maritime ports of the country have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number three as the deep depression over west-central bay and adjoining northwest bay moved north-northeastwards and lies over northwest bay and adjoining west-central bay.
It was centred at 06 am on Sunday about 875 kms southwest of Chattogram port, 855 kms southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 695 kms south-southwest of Mongla port and 725 kms south-southwest of Payra port.
It is likely to move further in a north-northeasterly direction and weaken gradually.
READ: Cyclone Jawad: Over 100 tourists stranded on St Martin's
Maximum sustained wind speed within 48 kms of the deep depression centre is about 50 kph rising to 60 kph in gusts or squalls. Sea will remain rough near the centre of the deep depression.
Under the influence of the peripheral effect of the deep depression, deep convection is continuing over north Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh.
Steep pressure gradient persists over north bay.
Rain or thundershowers with temporary gusty or squally wind speed of 40-50 kph is likely over north Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh.
READ: Cyclone ‘Jawad’ brewing in Bay of Bengal
All fishing boats and trawlers over north Bay and deep sea have been advised to take shelter and remain in shelter till further notice.
Cyclone Jawad: Over 1000 tourists stranded on St Martin's
More than 1000 tourists remain stranded on St Martin's island due to the hostile weather caused by Cyclone Jawad in the Bay of Bengal. The authorities have suspended the movement of passenger vessels between Teknaf and St Martin's Island for two days beginning from Sunday. Pervez Chowdhury, Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) confirmed the matter. Due to the bad weather, the local administration suspended the movement of all types of vessels by hoisting cautionary signal 3.
READ: Cyclonic storm ‘Jawad’ weakens into deep depression
The suspension will continue till the weather improves, the UNO said. St Martin's union parishad chairman Nur Ahmed, said the tourists got stranded due to the suspension of the trawler movement. “They have to wait until further notice”. All fishing boats and trawlers in the northern Bay of Bengal and deep sea have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution. And of course, venturing into the deep sea is strongly advised against.
READ: Tourist ships return to St Martin's island
Cyclone ‘Jawad’ brewing in Bay of Bengal
The cyclonic storm ‘Jawad’ over the west-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas has moved north-northwestwards and currently lies over the same area, weather officials have said.
Around 6am on Saturday, the storm was centred about 1,030 kms southwest of Chattogram port, 995 kms southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 885 kms south-southwest of Mongla port and 895 kms south-southwest of Payra port.
It is likely to move further in a north-northwesterly direction, the weather department said.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kms of the cyclone centre is about 62 kmph rising to 88 kmph in gusts or squalls. Sea will remain very rough near the cyclone centre, according to the weather bulletin.
Read:Maritime ports asked to hoist local cautionary signal 3
The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra in Bangladesh have been advised to hoist at the mast local cautionary signal two to alert vessels of the impending storm.
Also read: Weather dept asks maritime ports to warn vessels of squall
All fishing boats and trawlers in the northern Bay of Bengal and deep sea have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution. They are also advised not to venture into the deep sea.
Deep depression in Bay of Bengal intensifies into cyclonic storm ‘JAWAD’
The deep depression over west-central Bay and adjoining area moved northwards further intensifying into a cyclonic storm ‘JAWAD’ at 12 pm on Friday, the Met Office said in a weather bulletin.
“It is likely to intensify further and move in a north-westerly direction,” the forecast said.
Read:Maritime ports told to warn vessels of 'deep depression' in Bay of Bengal
Maritime ports in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra have been advised to hoist distant warning signal no 2 lowering distant cautionary signal no 1, said Met office bulletin.
Sea will remain very rough near the cyclone centre as maximum sustained wind speed within 54 km of the cyclone is about 62 kph rising to 88 kph in squalls, the bulletin added.
"All boats and trawlers in the North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice," it added.
Bay of Bengal resources to be tapped in environment-friendly way: Shahriar Alam
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam has said Bangladesh, empowered by the peaceful resolution of its maritime disputes, is looking to benefit from the resources of the Bay of Bengal in an environmentally-friendly manner.
He made the remark while speaking as the chief guest at a conference titled “Inspired by Bangabandhu’s Vision of Regional and Global Peace: Envisaging Regional Peace and Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal''.
The conference was organized jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies (CBoBS) of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) on Tuesday at the IUB auditorium in the city.
The hybrid event, with actual and web-based participation, was a curtain-raiser for the World Peace Conference being convened by the government of Bangladesh in Dhaka December 4-6, 2021 to highlight and carry forward Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s vision of world peace.
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The State Minister said from the production of clean energy to the development of new and sustainable industries in fields as diverse as bio-tech and aquaculture, Bangladesh needs to invest in knowledge, develop marine sector skills, and encourage innovation and business.
In his video message, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr Gowher Rizvi said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s dream to build ‘Sonar Bangla’ was predicated on ensuring a regional and global environment of peace.
“Towards this end, he articulated in his foreign policy the cardinal principle of friendship to all, malice towards none,” he said.
IUB Vice-Chancellor Tanweer Hasan said IUB has embraced the government’s agenda of inclusion of all in education irrespective of gender, socio-economic and religious background.
Read: Dubai-based DP World to invest $1 bln in Bangladesh
“We are a campus that promotes diversity. And that is how we believe we are helping realize the dreams of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who fought for peace, harmony and equal rights for all people.”
Myanmar Navy detains 22 Bangladeshi fishermen on four trawlers
Twenty-two Bangladeshi fishermen were detained and their four trawlers were seized Saturday by members of the Myanmar Navy from the Bay of Bengal.
Saint Martin Union Parishad Chairman Nur Ahmed said Myanmar Navy seized four of the trawlers owned by residents of the area with the 22 fishermen on board around 10am Saturday, from the east side of the island when they were out in the sea fishing.
Border Guard of Bangladesh and the Coast Guard have been informed about the incident, said the chairman.
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According to local fishermen, those 22 fishermen went in the sea around Friday evening on trawlers owned by Nurul Amin, Md Azim, Md Hossain and Md Younus.
Some members of Myanmar Navy crossed the maritime boundary on Saturday morning and took control of the trawlers at gunpoint, they said.
Trawler owner Md Azim said his trawler was taken with six fishermen onboard, along with the other three trawlers.
An official from the Coast Guard’s Saint Martin station said it is being investigated whether the detained fishermen were Bangladeshi citizens or members of the Rohingya community.
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Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Parvez Chowdhury said BGB and Coast Guard will take actions in this regard after investigation.
Depression over Bay likely to weaken: Met dept
A depression formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas has moved west-northwestwards and is likely to weaken, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
The depression has crossed northern Tamil Nadu and adjoining southern Andhra Pradesh coast between Pondicherry and Chennai in India, according to its bulletin.
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It is likely to move in a west-northwestwardly direction further, weaken gradually and become unimportant, the Met office said.
However, all fishing boats and trawlers in the deep seas have been advised to proceed with caution till the evening.
Also Read: 11 fishers rescued as trawler capsizes in Bay of Bengal
Low over Bay intensifies into depression
A depression over the Southwest Bay and adjoining area intensified into a well-marked low, said Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Thursday.
The depression was centred at 12pm on Thursday about 1625 kms southwest of Chattogram port, 1570 kms southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 1500 kms southeast of Mongla port and 1505 kms southeast of Payra port, according to a Met office bulletin.
It is likely to intensify further and move in a west-northwesterly direction, the Met office said.
Also read: Deep depression intensifies into Cyclone ‘Gulab’; Rain likely across country
Maximum sustained wind speed within 44 kms of the deep depression centre is about 40 kmph rising to 50 kmph. However, sea will remain moderate near the coast.
All fishing boats and trawlers have been advised to come closer to the North Bay. They are advised not to venture into the deep sea.
Also read: Maritime ports asked to warn vessels of depression over Bay
Barguna fisherman shot dead in Bay of Bengal
A 30-year-old fisherman was shot dead allegedly by pirates in the Bay of Bengal Tuesday night.
The deceased was identified as Musa, son of Harun Mia of Charlathimara village in Patharghata upazila.
Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, the president of the Barguna District Trawler Owners Association, said a group of 25-30 pirates swooped on a trawler, named ‘FB Babul’, in the Mandarbari area of the Sundarbans off the coast of Patharghata upazila at 9.30pm and took the fishermen on board hostages at gunpoint.
Read: Lalmonirhat: Two Bangladeshi cattle traders killed in BSF firing
Musa was shot dead when he resisted the robbery. The pirates looted valuables from the trawler and also thrashed some fishermen before leaving the vessel.
Commander (operations) of the Bangladesh Coast Guard, Lutfur Rahman, said a team from the Mongla zone is on its way to the high seas.
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