Under its influence squally winds may affect the maritime ports, which had been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number-3 by the Met office.

The maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla had taken off the local cautionary signal number-3 on Saturday morning, but again advised to hoist the signal yesterday afternoon as the depression is packed within 44 kms of it with winds of about 40 kmph, rising to gusts/squalls. The sea will remain moderate.

It is likely to intensify further and move to a north/north easterly direction.

All fishing boats and trawlers working in the north Bay have been advised to keep close to the coast and negotiate the sea with caution till further notice, a special bulletin of the Met office said.

It said the depression was centred at 3:00pm yesterday about 765-km south-southwest of Chittagong Port, 680-km of south-southwest of Cox's Bazar and 765 kms of Mongla Port.

The depression may generate high winds along the coastal area where river ports have been advised to hoist warning signal number-2. Other inland river ports have been advised to hoist warning signal number-1, the Met source said.