Inclement weather paralyses public life
Friday, 16 November 2007
FE Report
Incessant rain, accompanied with strong winds, swept through most parts of the country Thursday under the impact of the hurricane -- SIDR -- in the Bay of Bengal. The inclement weather has disrupted public life in the capital and elsewhere in the country.
Meanwhile, the Met office has asked the Civil Aviation Authority to halt operation of all flights to and from the Zia International Airport (ZIA) from 8pm Thursday until further notice as the cyclone SIDR was to hit Bangladesh coast Thursday night.
"We will consider the forecast of the Met Office in line with the civil aviation rules for the next course of action," Sheikh Altaf Ali, secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, told the FE at about 7.30 pm Thursday.
He said all concerned of the ZIA have been asked to remain alert to avoid any untoward incident.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong suspended its flight operations at 10pm until improvement of the situation.
However, activities at the government, autonomous and private offices in the city were disrupted due to the chilly weather. Most roadside shops remained closed.
There was poor attendance in the educational institutions.
Business sources said production in factories at the industrial belts in and around the city was recorded below the standard level due to poor attendance of the workers.
They said many export consignments bound for the Chittagong and Mongla ports remained stranded at the Kamalapur Inland Container Depot.
Business establishment sources said their foreign clients have deferred their scheduled visits to Bangladesh due to the cyclone.
They said hundreds of Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) telephones went out of service, especially in the industrial belts, due to the rain.
Incessant rain, accompanied with strong winds, swept through most parts of the country Thursday under the impact of the hurricane -- SIDR -- in the Bay of Bengal. The inclement weather has disrupted public life in the capital and elsewhere in the country.
Meanwhile, the Met office has asked the Civil Aviation Authority to halt operation of all flights to and from the Zia International Airport (ZIA) from 8pm Thursday until further notice as the cyclone SIDR was to hit Bangladesh coast Thursday night.
"We will consider the forecast of the Met Office in line with the civil aviation rules for the next course of action," Sheikh Altaf Ali, secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, told the FE at about 7.30 pm Thursday.
He said all concerned of the ZIA have been asked to remain alert to avoid any untoward incident.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong suspended its flight operations at 10pm until improvement of the situation.
However, activities at the government, autonomous and private offices in the city were disrupted due to the chilly weather. Most roadside shops remained closed.
There was poor attendance in the educational institutions.
Business sources said production in factories at the industrial belts in and around the city was recorded below the standard level due to poor attendance of the workers.
They said many export consignments bound for the Chittagong and Mongla ports remained stranded at the Kamalapur Inland Container Depot.
Business establishment sources said their foreign clients have deferred their scheduled visits to Bangladesh due to the cyclone.
They said hundreds of Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) telephones went out of service, especially in the industrial belts, due to the rain.