Handout                                                                                                     Number : 1781

Special weather bulletin - 2

Dhaka, May 02 :

            The very severe cyclonic storm 'FANI' over westcentral bay and adjoining area moved north-northeastwards further over the same area (lat. 16.7°N, long. 84.6°E) and was centred at 12 noon today (2 may 2019) about 1005 km southwest of Chattogram port, 970 km southwest of Cox's bazar port, 850 km southwest of mongla port and 865 km southwest of payra port. It is likely to intensify further, move in a north-northeasterly direction, cross odisha coast of India by afternoon of 3 may 2019 and then moved north-northeasterly direction over Odisha west bengal coastal area, reach khulna and adjoining southwestern part of Bangladesh by evening of 3 may 2019. Khulna and adjoining southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh may experience the peripheral effect of the very severe Cyclonic storm 'FANI' by the morning of 3 may 2019.

             Maximum sustained wind speed within 74 kms of the storm centre is about 160 kph rising to 180 kph in gusts/ squalls. Sea will remain very high near the cyclone centre.

            Maritime ports of mongla and payra have been advised to keep hoisted danger signal nubmer seven. Coastal districts of Bhola, Borguna, Patuakhali Barishal, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal number seven.

            Maritime port of Chattogram has been advised to keep hoisted danger signal number six. Coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal number six.

            Maritime port of Cox's bazar has been advised to keep hoisted local warning signal number four.

            Under the influence of the very severe cyclonic storm 'FANI' and the newmoon phase, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi,  Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 4-5 feet height above normal astronomical tide,

            The coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Bhola, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 90-120 kph in gusts/ squalls with heavy to very heavy falls during the passage of the storm.

            All fishing boats and trawlers over north bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.

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Rahman/Mahmud/Rahat/Salim/2019/1920  Hrs

Handout                                                                                                          Number : 1780

Bangladesh-US 7^th Security Dialogue held in Dhaka

Dhaka,  May 2 :

          The 7^th Bangladesh-US Security Dialogue concluded successfully in Dhaka today. Director General, Americas Wing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ferdousi Shahriar and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of the Political Military Affairs, US State Department Michael F. Miller led the respective side in the dialogue. Among the key issues discussed in the dialogue were : peacekeeping with reference to Bangladesh’s role and involvement in building peacekeeping capacity, military to military cooperation, security assistance, defense trade, counterterrorism, countering violent extremism, border and regional issues with reference to the ongoing Rohingya crisis, vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, human security and border issues.

            The US side lauded Bangladesh’s role as a troops contributing nation and the availability of required training facilities in Bangladesh to prepare the peacekeepers for missions anywhere in the world. The Bangladesh side noted that Bangladesh is on the verge of fulfilling the UN requirement of 15% female peacekeepers.

            The meeting noted security cooperation as a key component in bilateral cooperation. The US side reiterated its support to the armed forces and law enforcers of Bangladesh in enhancing capacity through various forms of trainings, sharing of information, sophisticated equipment and joint exercises. The two sides discussed the issue of re-introducing Bangladesh Biman flight between Dhaka and New York.

            The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on counterterrorism and civilian security issues. Bangladesh reiterated its stated position of “zero-tolerance” against any form of terrorism. Bangladesh requested the US to return Rashed Chowdhury, a convicted killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to Bangladesh to face justice. Information and data sharing was identified as a very vital area of cooperation in nabbing terrorists and preventing crimes.

            The meeting had a brief overview of the traditional and non-traditional security concerns facing both countries in the region. The Rohingya issue was identified as threat multiplier in regional and global contexts. The US side assured to remain beside Bangladesh in executing a sustainable and dignified return of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their homeland, Myanmar. The US side responded affirmatively to Bangladesh’s call for working together in the maritime domain on security matters. The two sides agreed to work together on multiple aspects of non-traditional security (NTS) in future.

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Marzuk/Mahmud/Farhana/Enayet/Mosharaf/Salim/2019/2020 Hrs.