Flights cancelled at Ctg’s Shah Amanat Airport

UNB :
The authorities of Chattogram’s Shah Amanat International Airport have suspended the operation of all flights from Friday night due to inclement weather caused by the cyclonic storm Mocha.

Director of the airport, Group Captain Taslim Ahmed, said that as the meteorological department has advised the maritime ports of Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram to keep hoisted great danger signal 8, the authorities concerned decided to suspend operation of all flights from 6 am Saturday till 12 pm Sunday.

Besides, the Chattogram port authorities issued Alert-4 instead of Alert-2 due to the inclement weather and all ships were taken to a safe place. The port authorities also suspended port operation from Friday night.

Md Omar Faruk, Secretary of Chattogram port, said 16 ships, which were anchored at the jetty for unloading goods and containers, have been asked to leave the jetty by Saturday morning.
According to the latest weather bulletin, the very severe cyclonic storm Mocha over east central Bay and adjoining area is likely to intensify further, move in a North-Northwesterly direction and cross Cox’s Bazar-North Myanmar coast by 6 pm on Sunday (May 14).
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has suspended launch services from Chandpur to all routes as Cyclone Mocha approaches the coast.

BIWTA issued a notice in this regard on Friday night, said Deputy Director of BIWTA Shahadat Hossain.
The launch services remained suspended from 11 pm on Friday.
The order will remain in force until further notice.

It also asked the river vessels to anchor in safe places.
Meanwhile, Chandpur Deputy Commissioner Quamrul Hasan, said the local administration has opened 353 cyclone shelters in the district and the Upazila Nirbahi Officers have been asked to evacuate people from char areas including Chandpur Sadar, Matlab North and Haimchar upazilas to safe places as soon as possible.