The International SeaKeepers Society organised the first-ever edition of The Ocean Collective Summit (TOCS) at ONE° 15 Marina Sentosa Cove in Singapore recently. TOCS is part of Blue Water EduFest 2022 and the inaugural event saw Guest of Honour Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration in attendance. He later delivered a speech reiterating the nation's commitment to coastal conservation as part of Singapore's sustainability endeavours. While weather patterns of late give a grim indication of the impact of climate change, the resounding message from the Conference was one of hope, encouragement and more importantly, one of personal responsibility. Speakers ranging from keynote speaker; famed Aquanaut, Oceanographic Explorer and Environmental Advocate, Fabien Cousteau; Dr Karenne Tun, Director of the Coastal and Marine and Terrestrial Branches, National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board (NParks); and Dr Steven Fong, Programme Chair DMAC, Republic Polytechnic; stressed the importance of personal action. Enayetullah Khan, conservationist and founder of WildTeam, attended the summit on the first day, November 3. Instead of waiting for work or action to be taken by the authorities or a collective group, individual action is just as important and should not be neglected, the conference conveyed. Speakers also urged attendees to look at making changes in their daily habits, a change of mindset, and even changing the language. For instance, instead of "seafood", the term can be replaced with "sealife" so that in time, sea creatures are seen as cohabitants of the planet and not just food for consumption. Dr Tun further shared the personal actions she's taking with her lifestyle as a demonstration of how everyone has a part to play to help achieve the targets set out in The Singapore Green Plan 2030. Read more: UNCLOS can be a pathway to ocean of opportunity for LDCs: Bangladesh The message of personal responsibility rings true for today's youth who formed a large part of the audience. The youth are identified as the group showing the most concern as well as the group most demanding for action to be taken. The message of personal responsibility and action resonated with the attendees and set the stage for the second day of the conference. The second day of the conference (Nov. 4) also explored how corporate citizens maintain the balance between commercial requirements and responsibility to the environment. Speakers from some of the world's most established brands, such as Citi Private Bank, SDAX, Archwey and VE Capital and Company, shared how their organisations provide solutions towards achieving sustainability. About The Ocean Collective Summit The Ocean Collective Summit (TOCS) is a programme initiated by The SeaKeepers in cooperation with Fabien Cousteau; the Founder of The Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Centre and Proteus Ocean Group; and famed for his work as an Aquanaut, Oceanographic Explorer and Environmental Advocate. TOCS aims to bring a focus on the ocean and its intricate connections to life and all the inhabitants of our planet, Earth. Through its annual conference, TOCS will gather thought leaders to educate, raise awareness and inspire action to be taken and work collectively towards a more sustainable future. The International SeaKeepers Society The International SeaKeepers Society was founded in 1998 by a small group of yacht owners who were alarmed by the deterioration of our natural environment. The organisation's initial focus was on the development and use of instrumentation on yachts to monitor marine conditions throughout the world's oceans. Today, The International SeaKeepers Society continues to work with yachts as a vital part of its programming. The International SeaKeepers Society strives to increase current knowledge about the oceans, promote and facilitate scientific discovery and raise awareness about critical ocean issues. The International SeaKeepers Society works directly with the yachting community as an essential component and contributor to ocean research and conservation efforts. The organisation runs several yacht-involved programs to accomplish this mission. Read more: UN Ocean Conf: Bangladesh reaffirms commitment to achieve SDG-14 The International SeaKeepers Society began expansion into Asia in 2016 with the SeaKeepers Asia chapter. Building upon established international programming, the focus in Asia is creating awareness of the current situation of our oceans in Asia in order to build a sense of appreciation and commitment to protect, conserve and restore when possible.  

Weather may remain mainly dry in most parts of the country in 24 hours commencing 9 am on Monday. “Light rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Chattogram division and weather may remain mainly dry with partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country,” said a Met Office bulletin. Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Meanwhile, a low pressure area may form over the Andaman Sea and adjoining area in next three days, it added. Read: Dry weather likely in most parts of country The mercury reached 35.1 degrees Celsius – the highest – in Sylhet while the minimum temperature was recorded at 20.9 degrees in Tetulia of Rangpur division, in 24 hours till 6am on Monday. Monsoon is weak over North Bay, said the bulletin.

Weather may remain mainly dry in most parts of the country in 24 hours commencing 9 am on Sunday as monsoon is weak over North Bay. “Light rain accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely at one or two places over Chattogram division and weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country,” said a Met Office bulletin. Read:Low pressure in Bay: More rains likely in 24 hrs Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Meanwhile, a low pressure area may form over the Andaman Sea and adjoining area in next three days, it added. The mercury reached 34.7 degrees Celsius – the highest – in Bhola of Barishal division while the minimum temperature was recorded at 21.1 degrees in Tetulia of Rangpur division, in 24 hours till 6am on Sunday. Read:Rains fail to quell Dhaka's 'unhealthy' air quality Southwest monsoon has withdrawn from Northern part of Bangladesh, said the bulletin.

The weather department has predicted more rains across the country in the next 24 hours. “Light rains accompanied by temporary gusty winds are likely to occur at one or two places over Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions,” the department said in its bulletin on Saturday. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, it said. Day temperature may remain nearly unchanged and night temperature may fall slightly over the country, it added. Read: More rains likely to drench Bangladesh The mercury reached 35.4 degrees Celsius – the highest – in Jashore, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 21.1 degrees in Tetulia of Rangpur division. Besides, monsoon is less active over Bangladesh and weak over the North Bay. Southwest monsoon may withdraw from northwestern parts of Bangladesh.

The weather department has predicted more rains across the country in the next 24 hours, with monsoon being fairly active over Bangladesh and weak to moderate elsewhere over the North Bay. “Light to moderate rains or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind and lightning flashes are likely to occur at many places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country,” the department said in its bulletin on Wednesday. Day temperature may fall slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, it added. The mercury reached 34.8 degrees Celsius – the highest – in Rajshahi, Barishal and Khulna divisions, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 23.4 degrees in Rajshahi, Rangpur and Sylhet divisions. Meanwhile, the axis of the monsoon trough runs through Bihar, West Bengal to Assam across the northern part of Bangladesh. One of its associated troughs extends up to the Northwest Bay, as per the bulletin.    

The weather department has predicted more rains across the country in the next 24 hours, with monsoon being fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate over the North Bay. “Light to moderate rains or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty winds and lighting flashes are likely to occur at a few places over Rangpur and Khulna divisions and at one or two places over Dhaka, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy falls at isolated places over the country,” the department said in its bulletin on Thursday. Read: More rains to lash Bangladesh in 24 hours Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. The mercury reached 36.0 degrees Celsius – the highest – in Rajshahi, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 24.3 degrees in Tetulia. Meanwhile, the low pressure area over the westcentral Bay and adjoining Andhra coast persists. The axis of monsoon trough runs through Bihar, West Bengal to Assam across central part of Bangladesh, it added.

More rains are likely to drench Bangladesh in 24 hours commencing 9 am on Monday as the low pressure area over North Bay and adjoining central Bay now lies over Northwest Bay and adjoining West central Bay, said the weather department. “Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind and lightning flashes is likely at many places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country,” said a Met Office bulletin. Read:More rains to lash Bangladesh in 24 hours However, the rainfall activity may decrease in next three days. Day temperature may fall slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, it added. Dhaka recorded 12mm rainfall in 24 hours till 6am on Monday. The weather office recorded the highest 134 mm rainfall in M.Court of Chattogram division during this period. The mercury reached 34.0 degrees Celsius – the highest – in Tentulia of Rangpur division while the minimum temperature was recorded at 19.7 degrees in Kumarkhali of Khulna division. Read: Brace for more showers Meanwhile, the axis of monsoon trough runs through East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal to Assam across central part of Bangladesh. Monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate elsewhere over North Bay, as per the bulletin.

More rains are likely to drench Bangladesh in 24 hours commencing 9 am on Sunday, said the weather department. “Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely at many places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions; at a few places over Rajshahi and Dhaka divisions and at one or two places over Khulna and Barishal divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at isolated places over the country,” said a Met Office bulletin. Read:More rains to lash Bangladesh in 24 hours Rainfall activity may increase in next three days. Day temperature may fall slightly over northern part of the country and may remain nearly unchanged elsewhere over the country. Night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, it added. The weather office recorded the highest 150 mm rainfall in Tetulia of Rangpur division in 24 hours till 6am on Sunday. Read: Rains to drench Bangladesh in 24 hours The mercury reached 35.4 degrees Celsius – the highest – in Jashore, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 22.8 degrees in Rajarhat of Rangpur division. Meanwhile, the axis of monsoon trough runs through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal to Assam across central part of Bangladesh. One of its associated troughs extends up to northwest Bay, said the bulletin.

The weather department has predicted light to moderate showers across the country in the next 24 hours, with monsoon being fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate over the north Bay. “Light to moderate rains or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty winds are likely to occur at a few places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna and Barishal divisions with moderately heavy falls at isolated places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions of the country,” the department said in its bulletin Thursday. Read:Rains to drench Bangladesh in 24 hours Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Rainfall activity may increase in the next 72 hours, it added. The Met office recorded the highest 76mm of rainfall in Sylhet in 24 hours till 6am on Thursday. The mercury reached 35.6 degrees Celsius – the highest – in Rajshahi, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 24.7 degrees in Sylhet, as per the bulletin. Read:More rains likely in Bangladesh Meanwhile, the Low pressure area over eastern Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas has merged with the monsoon axis. The axis of monsoon trough runs through Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal to Assam across the central part of Bangladesh. One of its associated troughs extends up to the northwest Bay, as per the bulletin.

Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal 3 as a low pressure area has formed over Northwest Bay. The Low pressure area formed over Nowethwest Bay and adjoining area is likely to intensify, said the weather department in a bulletin. Under its influence squally weather may affect the maritime ports , North Bay and adjoining areas of the country, said the weather department. Also read: More rains likely in 24 hrs All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice. They were also advised not to venture into the deep sea during the period.