Mocha set to pound coast this noon

The authorities have evacuated nearly 250,000 people until Saturday evening as the very severe cyclone 'Mocha' is set to make landfall in Cox's Bazar and parts of Myanmar's coast by this noon (Sunday noon).
The coastal district of Cox's Bazar has raised great danger signal number 10, while Chattogram and Barishal have been told to hold signal number 8 due to the predicted intensity of the cyclone.

Meanwhile, all business activities in Chattogram have stopped since Friday night, as traders fear that the tidal surge might wash away essential commodity warehouses if the cyclone hits with its envisaged vigour.
According to the Met Office, the cyclone was 705 km southwest of the Chattogram port, 630 km south-southwest of Cox's Bazar, 695 km south of the Mongla port, and 645 km south of the Payra port on Saturday noon.
The fifteenth special circular on the weather situation issued by the
The Bangladesh Meteo-rological Department (BMD) stated that a number of districts, including Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, and adjacent islands and chars, will be under signal number 8.
"The severe cyclone might lead to an 8-12 feet tidal surge higher than usual in the low-lying areas of Chattogram and Cox's Bazar," warned the BMD, adding that the low-lying areas of other districts, including Barishal, Bhola, and Chandpur, may witness 5-7 feet higher tidal waves driven by strong winds.
The BMD also advised all fishing boats and trawlers plying over the north Bay of Bengal to take shelter at safer places.
In its regular bulletin, the BMD said the very severe Cyclonic Storm "MOCHA" over the central bay and adjoining southeast bay area moved north-northeastwards, and was lying over the east-central bay and adjoining area on Saturday morning.
The cyclone is likely to intensify further, move in a north-northeasterly direction, and may cross Cox's Bazar-North Myanmar coast between 6 am and 6 pm on Sunday. The BMD states that the coastal regions of Chattogram and Barishal divisions will experience the peripheral effect of the very severe cyclonic storm by Saturday night.
In its forecast, the BMD said light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at most places over Barishal and Chattogram divisions and at many places over Dhaka, Khulna, and Sylhet divisions.
Amit Debnath, assistant senior secretary and authorised person for the National Disaster Response Coordination Group (NDRCG), told the FE that nearly 250,000 people from Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, and Barishal regions were evacuated until Saturday 7:00 pm to cyclone shelters.
He said the number should be raised to 600,000 by Sunday morning, and the process was underway.
Md Kamrul Hasan, secretary at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, told the FE that they must bring targeted people into the shelters even if they have to deploy police.
He said people, in general, are reluctant to evacuate their homes, which ultimately raises the risks of damage and casualties.
Moheshkhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Yaseen told the FE that a total of 20,000 residents of the upazila had been taken to 94 shelters till Saturday evening.
"Almost all or over 2,000 residents of Sonadia Island have already been taken to the cyclone shelters," said the official.
Teknaf UNO Md Kamruzzaman said all the 9,000 people of Saint Martin's Island have been taken to shelters.
He said a total of 30,000 people in Teknaf upazila have been evacuated to 106 shelters.
Md Mahbubul Alam, president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), told the FE that all trading activities have been halted in the city due to the possibility of a severe cyclone.
He said that the city's daily trading transaction ranges between Tk 5.0-Tk 7.0 billion, involving its 30,000 businesses.
Alam said that traders in Khatunganj, Chaktai, Sadarghat, Riaz Uddin, Terri Bazar, and Andar Killa are in great concern for the cyclone, as it could bring a severe tidal surge.

"We have advised all traders to keep their products and warehouses safe from the storm and inundation," he said.
Meanwhile, Md Alamgir, joint director (River Port) at Dhaka River Port Terminal in Sadarghat, told the FE that launch services were stopped from 10:30 pm on Friday.
He said that launches of different southern district routes, including Barisal, did not operate from Friday night (10:30 pm) and Saturday. He added that the services would resume after the situation improves.
A significant number of passengers have suffered as they could not travel to their respective districts following the stoppage of launch services from Sadarghat.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) said that all flights to and from Chattogram and Cox's Bazaar airports have been suspended for Saturday and Sunday.
In line with the CAAB directive, Biman Bangladesh Airlines requested international passengers to contact nearby offices of the national flag carrier to know about their flight details.
It announced that all flights departing from the two airports would be suspended until Sunday 7:30 pm.
The air travel operator also requested passengers who want to board international flights from Dhaka to report at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) five hours before their scheduled flight time.
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