Hundreds of fishing boats have taken shelter along the coast and in different parts of the Sundarbans as rough seas and adverse weather continue to affect Bangladesh’s southern coastal waters.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has advised the country’s four maritime ports; Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra, to keep Local Cautionary Signal No. 3 hoisted. Fishing boats and trawlers operating in the North Bay have also been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.
According to local fishing industry representatives, several hundred boats have already moved to safer locations including Rayenda, Mahipur, Khepupara, Nidrasakhina and Patharghata, as well as sheltered areas within the Sundarbans. Some boats were still returning towards the coast as conditions deteriorated.
Abul Hossain, president of the Shyamnagar Upazila Fishing Trawler Owners’ Association, said many boats had been unable to continue fishing in the rough sea and had sought shelter.
At the Rajair fish landing station in Sharankhola, fishing vessels have also remained anchored because of the adverse weather. Kabir Hossain, an aratdar at the landing station, said the fleet had been taking shelter there for the past two days.
The situation has also affected fishing operations along the Barguna coast. Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of the Barguna District Fishing Trawler Owners’ Association, said fishermen who had gone to sea were returning towards the coast to avoid the worsening conditions.
No fishing boats reported at sea near Dublar Char
Conditions have been particularly difficult around Dublar Char, a major fishing and fish-processing area in the Sundarbans.
Milton Roy, forest ranger and officer-in-charge of the Dubla Forest Patrol Outpost, said there were no fishing boats in the sea in the area because of the adverse weather. Strong winds and heavy rainfall were prevailing around Dublar Char, he said.
The latest weather situation follows the development of a deep depression over the west-central and northwest Bay of Bengal. The system has been producing squally weather over the North Bay and adjoining coastal areas. The BMD reported maximum sustained winds of around 50 km/h near the center of the system, rising to about 60 km/h in gusts or squalls, with rough seas near the depression.
The deep depression was moving west-northwestwards and was expected to cross the North Andhra Pradesh-South Odisha coast of India. While the system was not reported as a cyclone threat to Bangladesh, meteorologists warned that its influence could continue to bring squally winds and rainfall to southern and southwestern parts of the country.
For fishing communities along the Sundarbans and the wider southwest coast, the immediate priority remains the safety of fishermen and vessels. With fishing activity temporarily disrupted, landing operations and the supply of fresh marine fish to coastal markets may also remain affected until sea conditions improve.
Authorities have advised fishing boats and trawlers to remain close to shore and operate cautiously until further notice.
