Cyclone Remal: Bangabandhu tunnel to be closed from Sunday evening
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Over 800,000 people from various coastal areas moved to shelters
The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong will be closed from Sunday evening till Monday morning as Cyclone Remal is approaching the coast.
State Minister of Disaster Management and Relief, Md Mohibbur Rahman, announced this after a meeting between ministries at the secretariat on Sunday.
The state minister said: “Over 800,000 people from various coastal areas have been moved to safe shelters. An appeal has been made for others in these areas to move to safety as well.
“All leaves for officials and staff of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and other ministries have been canceled to aid in disaster management and support the affected people," he added.
Mohibbur Rahman also said that all classes in the coastal regions schools will be suspended.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has asked Mongla and Payra ports asked to hoist great danger signal no 10 as cyclonic storm Remal now lies over Northwest Bay and the adjoining areas.
The coastal districts -- Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Barguna, Bhola, and Patuakhali will be under great danger signal number 10.
The met office published the forecast on its website on Sunday morning.
Cyclone Remal has now intensified into a severe cyclonic storm.
Meanwhile, the Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar posts have been asked to hoist great danger signal no 9.
The cyclone is predicted to make landfall on Sunday, affecting the coasts of Bangladesh and India’s West Bengal.