Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep local cautionary signal no. 3 hoisted as the monsoon depression over India’s West Bengal-Bihar and adjoining area moved west-northwestwards and now lies over north Chhattisgarh and adjoining area. It is likely to move in a west-northwesterly direction further and weaken gradually into a well-marked low, said a special bulletin of the Met office on Thursday (August 03, 2023). Maritime ports asked to hoist cautionary signal 3 Under its influence steep pressure gradient persists over north Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh. Squally weather is likely to continue over north Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh. Maritime ports asked to hoist cautionary signal 3 All fishing boats and trawlers in the north Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice. Maritime ports advised to lower signal

The 20-year-long master plan to transform the tourism city Cox’s Bazar into a modern and smart city is likely to be initiated next month. The Cox's Bazar Development Authority (CoxDA) is ready to prepare a masterplan for the tourism city. "We're working to formulate a masterplan for 20 years — from 2023 to 2043 — to transform Cox's Bazar into a smart city. The formal work to this end will start next month," Chairman of the CoxDA, Commodore (retd) Muhammed Nurul Absar, told reporters in a views-exchange meeting held at his office on Saturday. Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher also spoke at the programme. Read: Bangladesh’s first tourism master plan yet to be formulated, was supposed to be completed last Dec A detailed area plan is also being formulated to ensure a planned development for an attractive and environment-friendly Cox’s Bazar. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier asked the authorities concerned to prepare a masterplan for Cox's Bazar, to develop it as a smart city with all the modern facilities. She also asked the authorities concerned to keep the beauty of the “longest natural unbroken sea beach” in the world unharmed. Sheikh Hasina wants to transform Cox's Bazar into a global hub of tourism and aviation by developing a dedicated tourist attraction for foreigners, and a state of the art international airport with the longest and only marine runway in the country, the CoxDA chairman said. Read: Agreement signed with Seoul for transport master plan for Chattogram city The CoxDA chairman also said they are formulating the masterplan following the directive of the prime minister. It includes formulating strategic policy plan, detailed area plan of all the upazilas and beach areas of Cox's Bazar (690.67 sqkm), and tourism and regional development plans. Disaster management, preparing a Smart City Model for Cox's Bazar, transport management, environment management, drainage and sanitation management, utilities and socio-economic development and sectoral plans are also the key features of the masterplan. To support the Vision 2041 announced by the Awami League government to turn Bangladesh into a developed country with high income, the CoxDA is undertaking several development projects. Read more: Second stakeholder meeting on energy master plan Sunday, 'final report by Dec' The projects include cable car installation from Cox's Bazar to Sabrong and Cox's Bazar to Moheshkhali, introducing watersports and other amusement facilities on the sea beach, indoor amusement park, CoxDA Marina Bay Resort, CoxDA Condominium Project, Eco-resort in Moheshkhali, protecting lives and boosting marine tourism, preparing a roadmap to tap potential of the blue economy, renewable energy project, installation of central sewerage treatment plant (STP), water treatment plan and introducing sea-plane, cruise ship and helicopter service and preparing integrated costal zone management plan. CoxDA chairman Commodore (retd) Muhammed Nurul Absar said they are working to set up the central STP in Cox's Bazar, otherwise the Bay of Bengal will be a dead zone with huge amounts of sewerage going into the sea. "Once the projects are completed, they can immensely contribute to achieve the targets of sustainable development goals," he said. He added that they have already completed several projects that include reforming and rehabilitating Cox's Bazar's traditional Laldighi, Goldighi, markets and ponds, and building a multi-storey building for CoxDA. Read more: Master plan for tourism in Bangladesh to be formulated in Dec: State Minister The ongoing development schemes of the CoxDA are: building residential flats for CoxDA, sculpture and modern passenger shed at Moheshkhali, reforming and expanding the main road of Cox's Bazar (Holiday Crossing-Bazatghata-Larpara Bus Stand).

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has stopped providing food assistance to 23 Rohingya people belonging to four families in Cox’s Bazar. Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Md Mizanur Rahman confirmed the matter saying that their food aid has been stopped since Monday morning. “These 23 Rohingyas of four families have agreed over repatriation under a pilot project. Their food has been stopped since Monday morning. But UNHCR did not disclose why the food aid has been stopped," he said. Read: UNHCR ‘not involved’ in discussions on Bangladesh-Myanmar pilot project on Rohingya repatriation These Rohingyas are being provided with food assistance in an alternative way, he added. When contacted, Ikhtiyar Uddin Bayezid, deputy head of UNHCR's Cox's Bazar office, said that the higher officials can say the reason behind the discontinuation  of the food assistance. Bangladesh and Myanmar recently decided to undertake a pilot repatriation project under which a group of verified Myanmar nationals will return to their country of origin in the first batch. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, said conditions in Myanmar’s Rakhine State are currently “not conducive” to the sustainable return of Rohingya refugees. Read: OIC members must share responsibility for sustainable solution to Rohingya crisis: Momen “UNHCR’s position on returns of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar remains unchanged,” said the UN agency sharing its assessment. The UN agency said it is aware of the visit of a Myanmar delegation to Bangladesh to meet with a group of Rohingya refugees — on a bilateral pilot project between the two countries on possible repatriation. “UNHCR is not involved in these discussions,” it said in a statement on Bangladesh, Myanmar pilot project on Rohingya returns. The statement was shared by the UNHCR Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific on Sunday (March 19, 2023) night. Read: FM calls on global community to raise their voices to ensure safe return of Rohingyas      

A 19-year-old Rohingya boy was shot dead allegedly by miscreants at Kutupalong Rohingya camp in Ukhiya upazila on Monday. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Bashir, son of Rahmat Ullah and resident of No 6 camp. Also Read: UN urgently appeals for international support for Rohingyas Sheikh Mohammad Ali, officer-in-charge of Ukhiya Police Station, said a group of masked miscreants, numbering 25-30 , opened fire on the boy, leaving him injured. Later, he was taken to a hospital where the doctors declared him dead. Also Read: UN agencies face funding challenges in feeding Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, official says The reason behind the killing could not be known immediately. Police are trying to arrest the attackers, said OC.          

Police in a drive arrested suspected five members of a human trafficking gang and 19 Myanmar nationals from a house in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar district on Friday night for intrusion into the country. The five human traffickers were Zahid, 30, son of Selim, Jamal, 38, son of Hashem, Hazera, 50, wife of Amin Sharif, Yunus, 24, son of Ali zohr and Dwin Islam, son of Mohammad Shah. Among the Myanmar nationals, six were women, six men and seven children. Also read: Rohingya man shot dead in Cox’s Bazar Balukhali camp Tipped off, a team of police conducted a drive at the house of one Amin Sharif around 11:10 pm and arrested them , said Abdul Halim, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station. All of them entered the Bangladesh territory illegally through Teknaf border.    

Cyclone Mocha is crossing Bangladesh’s coast. Drizzling, accompanied by gusty wind, has started in St Martin’s Island and nearby Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar.  TRACK CYCLONE MOCHA LIVE:  The outermost band of Cyclone Mocha reached the coast of Myanmar's Rakhine state Sunday morning, and by afternoon the center of the storm was expected to make landfall near Sittwe township, which was under the highest weather alert, Myanmar’s Meteorological Department said Sunday (May 14, 2023). Read More: Cyclone Preparedness: Safety measures to follow before, during, after the disaster

The cyclonic storm Mocha has started crossing the coastal district of Cox’s Bazar and the neighbouring country Myanmar’s north coast with the speed of up to 215 km per hour (kmph), according to the latest bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Tariful Newaz Kabir, a meteorologist of the BMD, told UNB that the cyclone has started crossing Cox’s Bazar and “it will completely cross Bangladesh between afternoon and evening today (May 14, 2023).” The speed of wind may increase with time, he added. Read More: Heavy rains may trigger landslides in Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, 3 hill districts Cyclone Mocha, located over east central Bay and adjoining areas, kept moving north-northeastwards and kept intensifying, the earlier BMD bulletin read. Around 6 am today, the cyclone was located 385 km south-southwest of Chattogram port, 305 km south-southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 450 km south of Mongla port and 370 km south of Payra port, said the BMD bulletin. The coastal districts of Chattogram and Barishal divisions have already started experiencing the peripheral effects of the very severe cyclonic storm in the form of rain, the bulletin reads. Read More: All preparations taken to face cyclone Mocha: PM Hasina BMD said the maximum sustained wind speed near the storm's centre was about 190 kph, rising to 215 kph, in gusts or squalls. Earlier in the morning, Afroza Sultana, an assistant meteorologist of the BMD, told UNB that there is no possibility yet that Cyclone Mocha will turn into a super cyclonic storm. BMD in its update said the coastal districts of Cox's Bazar and Chattogram and the nearby islands and low-lying Char areas may face tidal surges 8 to 12 feet above the normal tide. Read More: Cyclone Mocha may cross Cox’s Bazar between 9am and 3pm today, no possibility of turning into super cyclonic storm: BMD Maritime port of Cox's Bazar has been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal no. 10. Maritime ports of Chattogram and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal no. 8, said the report. On the other hand, the maritime port of Mongla has been advised to keep hoisted local warning signal no. 4. The coastal district of Cox’s Bazar and its offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal no 10, according to the BMD. Read More: This is how Cyclone Mocha was named, plus all you need to know The coastal districts of Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Barguna and their offshore islands and chars will also come under great danger signal 8, the report said. Under the peripheral effect of the cyclone and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind driven surge, 8-12 feet above normal tide. The low-lying areas of Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Bhola and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by wind driven surge, 5-7 feet above normal tide. Read More: Cyclone Preparedness: Safety measures to follow before, during and after disaster Under the effects of Cyclone Mocha, Chattogram, Sylhet and Barishal divisions are likely to experience heavy (44-88mm) to very heavy rainfall. Due to very heavy rainfall, landslide may occur at places in the hilly regions of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Chattogram. All fishing boats and trawlers over the north Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice, the bulletin also said.

The cyclonic storm Mocha is likely to cross Cox’s Bazar and North Myanmar between 9am and 3pm today (May 14, 2023), according to the latest bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Mocha, located over east central Bay and adjoining areas, kept moving north-northeastwards and kept intensifying, it reads. The cyclonic storm was located at 490 km south-southwest of Chattogram port, 410 km south-southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 530 km south of Mongla port and 460 km south of Payra port, said the BMD bulletin. Read More: Heavy rains may trigger landslides in Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, 3 hill districts The coastal districts under Chattogram and Barishal divisions have already started experiencing the peripheral effects of the very severe cyclonic storm in the form of rain, it reads. BMD said the maximum sustained wind speed near the storm's centre was about 190 kph, rising to 210 kph, in gusts or squalls. This was up from 180-200 kph in the evening, meaning the storm was still gathering strength. Afroza Sultana, an assistant meteorologist of the BMD, told UNB this morning that there is no possibility yet that Cyclone Mocha will turn into a super cyclonic storm. Read More: All preparations taken to face cyclone Mocha: PM Hasina “We can predict that there is no possibility of Mocha turning into a super cyclone after observing its characteristics so far,” she said. There were some rumours that the cyclone had already turned into a “super cyclone”, but an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) update pointed out that it is called a super cyclone when the maximum sustained speed crosses 221 km per hour, which is not yet the case. BMD in its update said the coastal districts of Cox's Bazar and Chattogram and the nearby islands and low-lying char areas may face tidal surges 8 to 12 feet above the normal tide. Read More: This is how Cyclone Mocha was named, plus all you need to know Maritime port of Cox's Bazar has been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal 10. Maritime ports of Chattogram and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal 8, said the report. On the other hand, the maritime port of Mongla has been advised to keep hoisted local warning signal 4. The coastal districts of Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Barguna and their offshore islands and chars will also come under great danger signal 8, the report said. Read More: Mocha shows no sign of weakening; 190-210 kph winds near centre in BMD's midnight update The low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Bhola and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind driven surge, at 5-7 feet above normal tide. Under the effects of Cyclone Mocha, Chattogram, Sylhet and Barishal divisions are likely to experience heavy (44-88mm) to very heavy rainfall. Due to very heavy rainfall, landslide may occur at places in the hilly regions of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Chattogram. All fishing boats and trawlers over the north Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice, the bulletin also said. Read More: Cyclone Preparedness: Safety measures to follow before, during and after disaster

Bangladesh Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Chattogram, Sylhet and Barishal divisions that may trigger landslides in five districts. According to a special bulletin of Met office, Chattogram, Sylhet and Barishal divisions are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall as the very severe cyclonic storm Mocha over east central Bay and adjoining area moved North-Northeastwards over the same area. Also Read: Met office predicts rain or thundershowers in Dhaka, other divisions Due to very heavy rainfall landslides may occur in the hilly regions of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarbans, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Chattogram, it said.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted rain or thundershowers in all eight divisions, including Dhaka, in 24 hours starting from 9 am today (May 13, 2023). “Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at most places over Barishal and Chattogram divisions; at many places over Dhaka, Khulna and Sylhet divisions; and at a few places over Rangpur, Rajshahi and Mymensingh divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places over Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions,” said a special bulletin of the Met Office. Mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping over the districts of Dhaka, Tangail, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Chattogram, Rangamati, Cumilla, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Bandarban, Khulna, Jashore, Chuadanga, Patuakhali and Bhola and it may abate. Also read: Rains or thundershowers likely in parts of country; Severe heat wave continues in 6 districts Day temperature may fall by 1-3 degree C and night temperature may fall by 2-4 degree C over the country. Meanwhile, the very severe cyclonic storm Mocha over central Bay and adjoining southeast Bay area moved north-northeast-wards and now lies over east central Bay and adjoining area -- as of 6 am on Saturday. It is likely to intensify further, move in a north-northeasterly direction and may cross Cox’s Bazar-North Myanmar coast by 6 pm Sunday (May 14). Read More: Great danger signal No 10 issued for Cox’s Bazar maritime port as cyclone Mocha approaches END/UNB/MAS