The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has asked four maritime ports to keep distant cautionary signal No. 1 hoisted as a low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal has developed into a depression.

“The low over the south-west Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression on Tuesday night,” said Meteorologist Abul Kalam Mollik at 10:30am on Wednesday.

“But it will pass completely into India’s Tamil Nadu. It may cause heavy rain in the area. However, Bangladesh will not feel the impact of the depression.”

Though the depression may not have a significant effect on the weather in Bangladesh, nearly all divisions in the country could see one or two showers from Thursday, he said.

In a special bulletin released at 9am, the BMD said that the depression over the southwest bay and adjoining area had moved west-northwest over the same area.

It was located about 1,470 km southwest of Chattogram Port, 1,420 km southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 1,345 km southwest of Mongla Port, and 1,350 km southwest of Payra Port.

The depression is likely to move further west-northwest, the bulletin said.

The maximum sustained wind speed within 44 km of the centre of the system is about 40 kph, rising to 50 kph in gusts and squalls. The sea will remain moderate near the centre of the depression.

The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep distant cautionary signal No. 1 hoisted and all fishing boats and trawlers in the north bay and deep sea have been advised to keep close to the cost and proceed with caution until further notice.