Heavy rain disrupts life
A well-marked low over Barisal region has turned into a land depression, causing heavy rainfall in different parts of the country including the capital.
Meanwhile, at least 35 people went missing, feared drowned, after stormy weather sank a boat in the Meghna near Bheluarchar in Raipura upazila yesterday, UNB reports.
Two bodies were recovered and they were identified as Abdul Hakim, 65, and Sohan, 2. Police sources said the boat with 50 on board was going to Baluakandi from Raipura when it caught the storm and sank around 6:00pm.
The windy wet weather brought relief to Dhaka dwellers following days of sultry weather. However, city life was disrupted and several low-lying areas suffered water logging. The Eid shopping rush suffered as well, much to the dismay of shopkeepers.
The Met office in its bulletin said heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur at different places in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions today. It asked all ports, both sea and river ports, to hoist local cautionary signal number three.
It said the monsoon is very active over Bangladesh and strong over the north Bay. Squally weather may continue at the maritime ports and the sea is expected to remain rough. It advised small fishing vessels to take shelter immediately and remain there until further notice.
Under the influence of the depression, low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal, Chandpur, Barguna, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore and inland chars are likely to be inundated by wind driven tidal surges of two to four feet above normal height.
Our Barisal correspondent reports: Continuous downpour since Saturday night paralysed city life and its surrounding areas.
The Barisal Port Authority hoisted local cautionary signal number two and banned the plying of motor launches (ML) on 28 internal routes from Barisal port sine die.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Port Officer of Barisal Rafikul Islam said there is also a ban on motor launches on a total of 71 river and coastal routes since Saturday night.
Reports received from coastal areas said authorities ordered fishing trawlers to take shelter and stay there until the weather improves.
Street hawkers and temporary markets set up ahead of the Eid shopping rush did little business as very few shoppers ventured out.
Our Khulna correspondent reports: Cargo-handling at Mongla Port remains suspended since Sunday due to hostile weather. Life in Khulna city was disrupted.
Our Chittagong office reported that incessant rain disrupted normalcy of the port city and Chittagong region. It also caused low-lying areas to go under water.
According to the Met office at Patenga, the city and adjoining areas experienced 135mm of rainfall during the last 24 hours ending at 3:00pm.
Low-lying areas like Chawk Bazar, Badurtala, Kapasgola, Muradpur, Bohaddarhat, Chandgaon Residential Area, Katalganj, Sholokbahar, Bakalia, Prabartak Intersection near Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Agrabad CDA Residential Area and Halishahar went under knee-deep to waist-deep water due to the incessant rain since Sunday afternoon.
Rain and water logging caused gridlocks at many areas.
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