Cox's Bazar Weather Office Runs on Dhaka Radar Data

Cox's Bazar ranks among Bangladesh's most disaster-prone districts, frequently facing cyclones, storm surges, thunderstorms, and heavy rainfall. Yet the district's weather radar has remained out of service for the past three years. As a result, the Cox's Bazar Meteorological Office has lost its ability to collect real-time local weather data and now relies on radar data from Dhaka, satellite imagery, and various international sources.

A visit to the Doppler Radar Station on a hilltop next to the Circuit House in Cox's Bazar town found the facility largely inactive. Although the building remains intact, the radar's technical operations have been suspended. Several police officers are assigned to guard the station, while most of its approved workforce has long been absent.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the Cox's Bazar Radar Station was established in 1969 and upgraded to modern Doppler technology on April 22, 2007, with funding from the Japanese government and assistance from JICA. The radar could monitor weather conditions within a range of about 440 kilometers. Every few minutes, it collected data on cyclones, thunderstorms, heavy rain, squalls, and cloud movement and transmitted the information to Dhaka through VSAT technology. The radar has remained completely inoperative since Aug. 4, 2023, after its equipment reached the end of its operational life.

Authorities have planned to reinstall the station with modern technology. However, the proposal remains under discussion.

Mohammad Abdul Hannan, assistant meteorologist at the Cox's Bazar Meteorological Office, said the radar outage has limited the office's ability to monitor local weather conditions. "We are now issuing forecasts using data from the Dhaka radar, other meteorological stations, satellites, and various international sources," he said. "If the local radar were operational, we could provide faster and more accurate information for the sea and coastal areas."

He said no alternative can match a Doppler radar's ability to quickly detect localized weather events such as low-pressure systems over the Bay of Bengal, thunderstorms, and heavy rainfall.

Meteorologists say satellite imagery can show cloud cover but cannot analyze rainfall intensity or the internal characteristics of storms as accurately as radar. Weather and climate researcher Mostafa Kamal Palash said a Doppler radar provides the most accurate information on a cyclone's track, rainfall distribution, and wind speed once it comes within about 400 kilometers of the coast.

Cox's Bazar Airport Director Golam Murtaza Hossain said up-to-date weather information is critical for every flight. He said an operational local radar would provide faster and more accurate data.

Nazim Uddin, general secretary of the social organization Amra Cox's Bazarbashi, said the absence of a functioning radar in a disaster-prone coastal district like Cox's Bazar has weakened the early warning system. He said it has also raised concerns about the safety of fishermen at sea, air travel, tourism, and coastal communities.

Delwar Hossain, general secretary of the Cox's Bazar Fishing Boat Owners Association, said mobile phone networks are unavailable at sea. "When the weather suddenly deteriorates, fishermen's lives are at risk. Fast and accurate forecasts are extremely important for us," he said.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the country currently has five Doppler radars in Dhaka, Cox's Bazar, Rangpur, Moulvibazar, and Patuakhali. Of those, the radars in Cox's Bazar, Patuakhali, and Moulvibazar have remained out of service for a long time. The Rangpur radar also recently stopped operating because of technical problems, significantly reducing the country's radar network capacity.

Department officials said replacement parts for the Cox's Bazar radar are no longer available on the international market. Department Director Mohammad Mominul Islam said authorities have planned to reinstall the Cox's Bazar Radar Station with modern technology. Discussions are also underway on implementing the project with international cooperation.

Mohammad Ashraf Uddin, secretary of the Ministry of Defense, said a project to install next-generation Doppler radars at several locations, including Cox's Bazar, is now in progress. He said the feasibility study has already been completed.

Researcher Mostafa Kamal Palash said installing new radars alone would not solve the problem. He stressed the need for regular maintenance, a reliable supply of spare parts, skilled personnel, and sustainable management to prevent the same crisis from recurring.

H. M. Nazrul Islam, member secretary of the Cox's Bazar Citizens' Movement, said, "As the cyclone season grips the coast, an inoperative radar continues to stand in Cox's Bazar."

Abu Murshed Chowdhury Khoka, president of Cox's Bazar Civil Society, called for the Doppler radar in Cox's Bazar to be restored to operation without delay.