No chance of ‘Sitrang’ hitting country

There is no possibility of super-cyclone "Sitrang" hitting the country, said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman yesterday.

"Our meteorologists are monitoring and have reported that no depression has formed in the Bay yet," he said at a press briefing at the secretariat.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief held the press briefing on "International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction", which will be observed today, under the theme "early warning and early action for all".

Quoting a Global Forecast Center report, Enamur said a depression will form in the Bay of Bengal on October 17 and will intensify into a cyclonic storm. It may hit parts of West Bengal and the Sundarbans through Andhra Pradesh.

Japanese and Indian meteorological departments will work jointly with Bangladesh in this regard, he said.

He also said the government is prepared to deal with cyclones. All field-level administrations, district administrations and volunteers have been instructed to be ready. "Usually we start preparatory work after the depression forms."