United News of Bangladesh

Power supply to 2.22 crore consumers of the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB), out of its total 3.58 crore, has been suspended following the landfall of cyclone Remal on Sunday (May 26, 2024). According to a top official of the BREB, these consumers are living in the areas belonging to 61 Palli Biduyt Samities (PBSs), out of a total 81. “The areas where power supply remained off till Monday since the hit of the cyclone are mainly located in the coastal belt of the country,” he told UNB. Impact of Cyclone Remal: Rain disrupts commute for office workers, students in Dhaka He, however, said mainly the power transmission was halted to those cyclone-hit areas as part of a cautionary measure to avoid any accident. With the improvement of the situation, gradually the power transmission and distribution system will be checked and restored, he added. Cyclone Remal: 2 die as roof collapses in Barishal He noted that it’s still not clear how much damages were caused by cyclone Remal. “We’re now receiving information from the cyclone affected areas,” he said. Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources took some measures including opening control rooms on Sunday to deal with the cyclone.

Cyclone Remal’s strong winds and tidal surges have caused extensive damages to riverbanks, infrastructure, and homes across Bagerhat. The cyclone's fury has damaged homes, uprooted trees, broken electric poles and severed power lines, leaving nearly 500,000 residents without electricity since Sunday night. On Sunday night, embankments in several areas were breached, inundating villages with tidal waters. Cyclone Remal: Over 100 shrimp enclosures washed away in Khulna; 30 villages inundated Deputy Commissioner Md. Khalid Hossain confirmed the preliminary data, indicating that 10,000 families have been stranded and 45,000 homes have been destroyed. Approximately 70,000 residents have sought refuge in shelters throughout the district. Bagerhat Rural Electrification Board General Manager Sushanta Roy reported extensive damage to the electrical infrastructure, with multiple poles downed and power lines cut. Executive Engineer Abu Raihan Mohammad Al-Biruni of the Bagerhat Water Development Board confirmed breaches at three riverbank points in Bagerhat Sadar and Morrelganj, causing widespread village flooding. Cyclone Remal: Another man dies on the way to shelter District Fisheries Officer SM Russell said around 30,000 fish enclosures  in Bagerhat Sadar, Rampal, Mongla, Morrelganj, and Sharonkhola areas were submerged.

Dhaka Metro Rail services resumed after nearly two hours of suspension this morning (May 27, 2024). Nazmul Islam Bhuiyan, deputy director (public relations) of the MRT Line-6 project, said the operations remained suspended due to problem in power sypply. Suspension of Metro rail service causes immense suffering to city dwellers Wishing anonymity, an official of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited, said the electric power supply for the metro rail was halted due to technical reasons. This problem occurred on Bijoy Sarani-Shewrapara line around 7:30am, he added. However, the services resumed after 9am, he said. Quader expresses discontent over NBR’s move to impose 15% VAT on Metro rail

Residents of Dhaka can expect continuous rainfall throughout the day as Cyclone Remal impacts the region, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Meteorologist Bazlur Rashid reported to UNB that Dhaka saw 35mm of rain by 9 am today, with more expected throughout the day. The incessant rain has flooded parts of some streets, slowing down traffic, and disrupting commute for officer workers and students in Dhaka. Dhaka’s air quality improves after rain due to the influence of Cyclone Remal Cyclone Remal, which began making landfall on Bangladesh’s coast on Sunday night, has moved northward and weakened. Initially a severe cyclonic storm, it has diminished to a cyclonic storm and further to a land-deep depression over Jashore and surrounding areas, according to the latest BMD bulletin. Maritime ports in Payra and Mongla have been advised to lower their danger signal from 10 to local cautionary signal number three. Similarly, Cox's Bazar and Chattogram are advised to lower their danger signal from nine to local cautionary signal number three. Cyclone Remal weakens into a land deep depression over Jashore, adjoining area Additionally, all fishing boats and trawlers in the north Bay are advised to remain sheltered until tomorrow morning, and then proceed with caution.

Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal, which made landfall on Bangladesh’s coast on Sunday (May 26, 2024) night, moved northwards and weakened into a cyclonic storm and further weakened into a land deep depression over Jashore and adjoining area, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department. It is likely to move northeastwards further and weaken into a land depression by giving precipitation, the BMD stated in its special bulletin. Dhaka’s air quality improves after rain due to the influence of Cyclone Remal Maritime ports of Payra and Mongla have been advised to lower danger signal number 10 but instead hoist local cautionary signal number three (R ) three. Maritime ports of Cox's bazar and Chattogram have been advised to lower danger signal number nine but instead hoist local cautionary signal number three (r) three. Cyclone Remal: Another man dies on the way to shelter All fishing boats and trawlers over north bay have been advised to remain in shelter till tomorrow morning (28 may 2024) and then proceed with caution.

Dhaka’s air quality has improved after rain due to the influence of cyclonic storm Remal. The capital ranked 25th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 70 at 09:45 am this morning. According to the air quality index, Dhaka’s air was classified as 'moderate' today. Cyclone Remal crosses Bangladesh Coast India’s Delhi, Egypt’s Cairo, Iraq’s Baghdad and Democratic Republic of the Congo's Kinshasa occupied the first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 302, 189 and 173, respectively. When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. Cyclone Remal: Another man dies on the way to shelter The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.

Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal, which began making landfall on Bangladesh’s coast on Sunday night, has moved northwards inland and now lies over Khulna-Satkhira, according to the Meteorological Department. Meteorologist Bazlur Rashid informed UNB that the cyclone's center currently lies over Khulna-Satkhira and will take another 2-3 hours to fully pass.  Cyclone Remal makes landfall on Bangladesh coast The maximum sustained wind speed within 64 km of the cyclone's center is about 90 kmph, with gusts rising to 120 kmph, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) stated in its special bulletin no. 18. Maritime ports of Payra and Mongla have been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal No. 10, while Cox's Bazar and Chattogram should maintain great danger signal No. 9. The coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Barguna, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, and their offshore islands and chars are under great danger signal No. 10, according to the bulletin. Coastal areas continue to experience heavy rainfall due to the influence of Cyclone Remal. Cyclone Remal: Coastal areas in Khulna experiencing rain, tidal surge Bangladesh has evacuated more than 800,000 people from the coastal regions.  "We have already prepared 8,000 to 9,000 shelters. Adequate dry food, biscuits, water, and medical supplies have reached all the shelters,” said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md. Mohibur Rahman on Sunday.  

 The World Food Programme (WFP) has swiftly dispatched cash assistance to families most at risk across Khulna and Barishal divisions ahead of cyclone Remal's anticipated landfall in the southern coastal regions of Bangladesh. A total of 30,000 families, or 150,000 people, in 11 upazilas spanning five districts—Khulna, Satkhira, Barguna, Patuakhali, and Bhola—received Tk 5,000 (US$43) each, WFP said on Sunday. The cash, facilitated through bKash, a Bank-led Mobile Financial Service Provider partnering with WFP, will aid families in preparing for and recovering from the impending storm. Cyclone Remal, meaning "sand" in Arabic, is the first pre-monsoon cyclone in the Bay of Bengal this season. The government of Bangladesh has issued cyclone signal number 10, out of a maximum of 11, indicating the severity of this storm. With this assistance, families have been able to procure essential items such as food, medicines, and cattle feed. Additionally, some have utilized the funds to reinforce their homes with ropes and arrange transportation for family members to safer locations. The cash distribution was complemented by early warning messages and evacuation support, coordinated with local government authorities in alignment with the Cyclone Preparedness Programme managed by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. This timely response is part of one of WFP's flagship programmes, Anticipatory Action (AA) for climate shocks. With generous support from Germany, through WFP’s Anticipatory Action Trust Fund, WFP activated this support and provided forecast-based cash assistance. "Early action saves lives. WFP has amassed years of experience in Anticipatory Action worldwide and here in Bangladesh," remarked Dom Scalpelli, WFP Bangladesh Country Director. "Through innovative approaches like this, we will continue to assist the Government in bolstering its national emergency preparedness and enhancing the resilience of communities disproportionately impacted by climate change.” The AA programme enables the implementation and financing of actions before an extreme weather event occurs. These anticipatory actions aim to prevent and mitigate – to the extent possible – the effects of extreme weather on the food security and nutrition of highly vulnerable people. Launched in 2015, WFP’s AA portfolio now includes 36 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. In Bangladesh, WFP, together with national and local government partners, has been supporting the development of early-warning systems and anticipatory actions for critical natural hazards such as floods, cyclones, flash flood, and heavy rainfall.  

Md. Jahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, has been appointed as the new Managing Director (MD) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited. Cyclone Remal: Biman suspends all Cox's Bazar bound flights Sunday A notification regarding this appointment was issued today from the Ministry of Public Administration. Earlier on May 21, Shafiul Azim, incumbent MD of Biman, was appointed as the Secretary of Election Commission.

Severe cyclonic storm Remal has started to make landfall on Bangladesh’s coast with strong wind and heavy rainfall, according to the Met Office. “It began to make landfall at 9pm and it will take five to six hours to cross the coast,” meteorologist Dr Mohammad Abul Kalam Mollik told UNB. Cyclone Remal: Coastal areas in Khulna experiencing rain, tidal surge The coastal areas are experiencing heavy rainfall due to the influence of cyclonic storm Remal.Bangladesh has evacuated more than 800,000 people from the coastal areas. "We have already prepared 8,000 to 9,000 shelters. Adequate dry food, biscuits, water and medical supplies have reached all the shelters,” said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman on Sunday. Youth swept away in tidal surge dies in PatuakhaliMaritime ports of Payra and Mongla have been advised to keep hoisting Great Danger Signal 10 while Cox's Bazar and Chattogram have been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal number 9.