DHAKA, Nov 9, 2019 (BSS) – The government has taken all-out preparations
to tackle the imminent severe cyclone ‘Bulbul’ which would move in a North or
Northeasterly direction and may cross West Bengal-Khulna coast near the
Sundarbans by this evening.
“The government has full preparation to face the severe cyclone ‘Bulbul’.
Leaves of all the government officials and employees at upazila level have
been cancelled aiming to face the cyclonic storm,” State Minister for
Disaster Management and Relief Ministry Md Enamur Rahman said.
He was briefing journalists after holding an Inter-Ministerial Disaster
Management Coordination Committee meeting at his ministry office here.
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Disaster Management the
Relief Chairman Tajul Islam, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam, Prime
Minister’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman, Disaster Management and
Relief Ministry’s Senior Secretary Md Shah Kamal and other officials
concerned attended the meeting.
Dr Enam said awareness campaigns have been intensified at the coastal
upazilas and districts to avert unwanted loss of lives and properties while a
total 14,000 packets of dry food, Taka 70 lakh and 1,400 metric tons of rice
have been allocated for the seven costal districts — Khulna, Satkhira,
Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola and Pirujpur — 2,000 packets of dry
food, Taka 10 lakh and 200 metric tons of rice for each district.
A total of Taka 30 lakh and 600 metric tons of rice, however, have been
allocated for six districts — Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Chattogram
and Cox’s Bazar — Taka 500,000 and 100 metric tons of rice for each
districts, he added.
Besides, Taka 100,000 for each of the nine districts– Khulna, Satkhira,
Pirujpur, Barguna, Barishal, Jhalokathi, Patuakhali, Bhola and Bagerhat —
has been allocated for fodder and baby food, the state minister said, adding
that more allocation will be given as per demand.
Dr Enam said a total of 55,515 volunteers are disseminating early warning
message of the cyclone ‘Bulbul’ at 3,684 units of 350 unions under 41
upazilas of seven zones under the 13 districts.
All concerned ministries and divisions have been asked to take necessary
measures to save the lives and properties of the people from the adverse
impact of the cyclone.
Besides, the Shipping Ministry has opened a temporary control room at the
ministry’s 801 (ka) no. room and canceled the weekend leave of all officials
under the ministry on November 9 and 10. The phone number of the control room
is 02-9546072; Joint Secretary of the ministry Manoj Kanti Baral will
supervise the control room.
Apart from this, different ministries, division and offices have also
launched control rooms to exchange emergency information about the cyclone
‘Bulbul’ and take necessary measures to tackle the imminent storm, said an
official release here today.
The phone numbers of the Bangladesh Coast Guard control room are – 01766-
690621 for Barishal division, 01766-690383 for Khulna division, 01766-690153
for Chattogram division and another additional phone number is 01766-690033.
The phone number of the Water Resources Ministry control room is 01318-
234560 while number of the Water Development Board’s central control room is
01552-353433.
Mobile number of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA)
control room is 01958-658213 while latest information about the cyclonic
storm ‘Bulbul’ can be known by dialing the number 1090.
The mobile number of Cox’s Bazar district control room, launched for
helping the stranded visitors in the Saint Martin’s Island is 01715-560688.
The stranded people have also been requested to communicate by dialing the
mobile number – 01851-966966 of Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).
Besides, latest information about the cyclone ‘Bulbul’ can be known by
making a call to the telephone numbers of Press Information Department’s
(PID’s) newsroom – 02-9512246 and 02-9514988.