<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Local administration has kept 409 cyclone centres prepared for sheltering 2,73,850 people as a deep depression over the Bay turned into Cyclonic storm ‘Mocha’and it is likely to cross Bangladesh on May 14.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Khandaker Yeasir Arefin, deputy commissioner of Khulna, said the government has opened 409 cyclone shelters in the district so that people can take shelter if needed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said a meeting of the disaster management committee will be held at 3:30 pm today.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Abdul Karim, district relief and rehabilitation officer, said the upazila level officials were asked to remain in their respective workplaces and take precautionary measures.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They were also asked to take steps to inform people about the danger signal through loudspeakers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Amirul Azad, in-charge of Khulna Weather Observatory Centre, said due to the impact of&nbsp; cyclone ‘Mocha’ heavy rains accompanied by gusty wind may lash the district on May 13.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, unless the direction is changed, there is no possibility of the cyclone hitting the Khulna coast,&nbsp; he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Regarding cyclone preparations, state minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman on Wednesday said , "We are acting in accordance with the SOD (Standing Orders on Disasters). I have communicated with field personnel. The forecast indicates that Cox's Bazaar is the most vulnerable. Most at risk are the low-lying areas of St. Martin Island and Teknaf.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Enamur Rahman said the authorities will start moving people to cyclone shelters if&nbsp; the cyclone danger signal reaches 5, 6 or 7.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The state minister said the army, the navy and the coastguard are also ready.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We hope to bring down the loss of life and property to zero (if it strikes)," he said. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>