Shawdesh desk:

There is no possibility of super cyclone Sitrang — to be formed over the Bay of Bengal — hitting Bangladesh coast, state minister for disaster management and relief Md Enamur Rahman said on Wednesday.

No depression had been formed in the Bay yet, he said at a press briefing on International Disaster Mitigation Day at the Secretariat.

The state minister said that the Global Forecast Center had shared a message that super cyclone Sitrang might hit the coastal areas this month.

GFS said a depression would form in the Bay on October 17 and would intensify into a cyclonic storm. It might hit parts of West Bengal and the Sunderbans through Andhra Pradesh, he added.

It can be similar to Cyclone Amphan, he added. ‘Our meteorologists are monitoring and reported that no depression has been formed in the Bay yet.’

‘If the cyclone hits this region it will be called Sitrang, named by Thailand,’ Enamur added.

Japan and Indian Meteorological Departments will work jointly with Bangladesh. ‘We will take action on our preparations when we come to a decision.’

He also said the government was prepared to deal with the cyclone although there was no specific information. The state minister said all the field level administration, district administration and volunteers had been instructed to be ready to tackle the cyclone.

‘Usually we start doing preparatory work after the depression forms.’

The cyclone shelters need to be prepared. ‘We will provide dry foods, drinking water and cash money there,’ the state minister said.