24m Yen Japanese grant to improve radar in Dhaka, Rangpur

Japan has granted an assistance of Japanese Yen 24 million for Bangladesh to improve radar system in Dhaka and Rangpur for getting more accurate weather forecast.

The signing ceremony on the Japanese government's grant assistance against "Project for Improvement of Meteorological Radar System in Dhaka and Rangpur (Detailed Design)" was held at Economic Relations Division (ERD) on Wednesday.

Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Shiro Sadoshima and Senior Secretary of ERD Mohammad Mejbahuddin signed the exchange of notes on behalf of the respective governments.

A Japanese Embassy press release said since 1986, Japan has been providing grant assistance to set up meteorological radar stations in Dhaka, Rangpur, Cox's Bazar, Khepupara and Moulvibazar. These five radar stations cover the entire country for weather forecast.

The latest grant assistance will be used for detailed design under the project to upgrade the radar stations in Dhaka and Rangpur by installing modern S-Band Doppler radars.

The Doppler radars will be able to provide maximum 400-kilometre radius coverage against the existing radars at these two sites having maximum 200-km radius coverage.

The press release also said the Doppler radars will enable the Meteorological Department to collect more accurate data on intensity of rain as well as three-dimensional meteorological data on atmospheric moisture and wind velocity distribution much faster than the existing radars in Dhaka and Rangpur.

The other three radar stations in Cox's Bazar, Khepupara and Mouluvibazar are already equipped with similar S-Band Doppler radars through the Japanese grant assistance.

    smunima@yahoo.com