BIWTA suspends vessel operation as cyclone nears

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) suspended all sorts of activities at three maritime ports and inland water transportation as cyclonic storm Bulbul over the Bay of Bengal is nearing the coasts.

After the Met Office raised the warning level at Mongla and Payra ports to danger signal No. 7, and No. 6 at Chattogram on Friday evening, the authorities suspended operations at the three ports.

All the ships have been asked to move from the jetties to the outer anchorage.

BIWTA announced the suspension of riverine transport services until further notice as the storm reached within 500 kilometres of the coasts.

A cautionary signal No. 2 has been hoisted for inland water, BIWTA spokesman Mobarak Hossain Majumder told bdnews24.com.

Cox’s Bazar port has been asked to keep hoisted cautionary signal No. 4, reports bdnews24.com.