Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has suspended launch services on all routes as very severe cyclonic storm ‘Bulbul’ approaches the coast.

BIWTA issued a notice in this regard on Friday night, said AKM Arif Uddin, the joint director of Dhaka River Port Authority.

He said the decision was taken considering the safety and security of the people.

In a special weather bulletin, the Met Office said ‘Bulbul’ intensified further and lied over Northwest Bay and adjoining west-central Bay at 3am.

It was about 380km southwest of Mongla port, 395km southwest of Payra port, 545km southwest of Chattogram port, and 520km southwest of Cox’s Bazar port.

It is likely to intensify further and hit Bangladesh’s coastal regions by this evening, the Met Office said.

Under the influence of the very severe cyclone storm and the moon phase, low-lying coastal areas are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 5-7 feet height above normal astronomical tide.

The government has opened cyclone shelters and cancelled holidays of its staff in 13 coastal districts to face cyclone ‘Bulbul’.