The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has asked river ports in 12 regions to display warning signal number one as gusty or squally winds are expected to affect parts of the country, accompanied by temporary rain or thunderstorms in some areas.

The advisory was issued in the department’s forecast on Wednesday. According to the forecast, winds from the south or south-eastern direction may reach speeds of between 45 and 60 kilometres per hour over Pabna, Dhaka, Faridpur, Jashore, Kushtia, Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cumilla, Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar.

The expected weather conditions could create difficult circumstances for river transport, particularly where sudden gusts develop alongside thunderstorms or heavy showers. Operators of smaller vessels and open boats are likely to face greater exposure because rapidly changing wind conditions can make navigation more difficult.

The 12 regions covered by the forecast stretch across both inland and coastal parts of Bangladesh. Dhaka, Faridpur, Pabna, Kushtia and Jashore are inland areas, while Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cumilla, Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar include riverine and coastal locations. The broad geographical spread means that the forecast conditions could affect several important waterways and routes used for regular passenger and cargo movement.

River ports are particularly vulnerable during periods of sudden weather deterioration. A sharp increase in wind speed can create rough conditions on open stretches of rivers, while reduced visibility during rain can make navigation more challenging. Small vessels may also become unstable when strong gusts strike unexpectedly.

The Meteorological Department’s warning signal is intended to alert river transport operators to the possibility of squally weather. Boatmen, passengers and other people using waterways have been advised to remain attentive to changes in the sky, wind speed and rainfall before and during journeys.

Thunderstorms also pose an additional risk to people travelling or working on open waterways. When thunderstorms approach, those on boats or near exposed riverbanks should seek a safer location where possible rather than remaining in open areas.

Weather conditions can change quickly, particularly when thunderstorms develop. For this reason, river transport operators have been advised to check the latest local weather information before setting out and to remain prepared for sudden changes during their journeys.

The latest forecast specifically attributes the river-port warning to the possibility of south or south-easterly gusts reaching 45 to 60 kilometres per hour, along with temporary rain or thunderstorms across the 12 identified regions.