Authorities issue warning for water transport amid bad weather condition

Continuing bad weather has prompted the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to suspended operation of small vessels.

Vessels, which measures less than 65 feet length, has been told to remain anchored as authorities advised cautionary signal No. 2 for river ports across the country, said BIWTA spokesperson Mobarak Hossain Majumder.

Earlier on Monday, the BIWTA suspended plying of all vessels, but lifted it after 2pm only for larger vessels.

"Cautionary signal No. 2 still remains, but larger vessel can operate as the stormy winds have stopped," the BIWTA public relations official told bdnews24.com.

The whole country, including capital Dhaka has been experiencing heavy to medium showers since Friday.

Rain and storm continued in phases until Monday noon.

BIWTA Traffic Inspector Humayun Kabir said that cautionary signal No. 2 means vessels with a length of more than  65 feet can operate.

"But all vessels have been suspended since 10:30am due to the gusty winds and heavy rains," said the BIWTA inspector based at the river terminal in Dhaka, the Sadarghat.

Kabir said that five launches left the terminal for the South until 10am on Monday.