Cyclone Rimal has picked up speed. The strong cyclone is moving towards the coast of Bangladesh. It was 200 km away from Payra Port at 12 noon on Sunday. It may start crossing southwest coast of Bangladesh in 3 to 4 hours after 6 pm today.

Today at 2 pm, the Department of Meteorology issued a special notification number 12. It is said that Cyclone Rimal was 335 km southwest of Chittagong seaport, 315 km southwest of Cox’s Bazar seaport, 220 km south of Mongla seaport and 200 km south of Payra seaport at 12 noon today.

It is likely to pass near Mongla from 6 pm today and cross the Khepupara coast of India’s West Bengal Sea Island and Patuakhali in the next 3 to 4 hours. After passing through the center of the severe cyclone, its lows will continue to pass.

Meteorologist of the Department of Meteorology. Umar Farooq told the media around 4:00 pm today that Rimal can cross the coast only after this evening. Before this the fore-end effect will have started much.

Umar Farooq said that the speed of the cyclone has increased more than before. He said, it has been moving at a speed of 9 km per hour since this morning. Earlier its speed was 6 to 7 km per hour. Cyclone speed may increase after landfall.

Payra and Mongla seaports were asked to display distress signal number 10 this morning. The coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Jhalkathi, Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali and their nearby islands and chars will be under the 10th mega danger signal.

Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong seaports have been asked to display distress signal number 9. The coastal districts of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur and their nearby islands and chars will also be covered under the 9th emergency signal.

According to the weather bulletin, due to the impact of the cyclone front and pressure difference, the coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Jhalkathi, Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and their nearby islands and chars. Low-lying areas may be inundated with high tides of 8 to 12 feet above normal tides.

Heavy (44-88 mm/24 hours) to very heavy (89 mm/24 hours) rains with gusty winds may occur in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions under the influence of severe cyclone. Landslides may occur in hilly areas of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Chittagong due to heavy rainfall.