Govt resumes large launch operations as cyclone Roanu passes over

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has cleared large launches for operations after cyclone Roanu has passed over the Bangladesh coastal areas.

The cyclone crossed the Bangladesh coast on Saturday after which the launches were cleared for operations late in the evening.

On Friday, the authority had suspended launch operations due to inclement weather with the cyclone approaching.

At about 6 in the evening on Saturday, BIWTA Director (Traffic) Md Mofizur Rahman said, “Warning signal number 2 is still in effect in the port area. So only launches with 65 feet width and more can operate safely. There is a prohibition in effect for the time being on launches smaller in size”, he said.

The Met Office said that the Roanu blew past Chittagong and other coastal areas of the country with wind speeds measuring up to 62 kmph.

On Saturday Met Office Director Shamsuddin Ahmed said that the cyclone has started to sweep past the coastal areas of the country and had arrived into the land area of Chittagong and other coastal land areas. 

Loss of lives, ships

>> Two cargo vessels laden with sand sunk in the Meghna river near Bhola resulting in the disappearance of four labourers, Bhola police OC Mir Khairul Kabir said.  

>> Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has lost the engine of its ship “MV Banglar Shikha” to the waves triggered by the cyclone, BSC Director Commodore HR Bhuiyan has said.

The ship was being towed to safety to the outer anchorage in Chittagong on Saturday as the cyclone was crossing the Chittagong coast.