BNP on Sunday asked its leaders and activists at all levels to stand beside people in the coastal areas as the severe cyclonic storm Mocha has started crossing the coastal district of Cox's Bazar at noon.

"We've already instructed our leaders and activists at all levels to stand by the people at this time of extreme natural disaster and provide the coastal people with all possible assistance," said party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office, he also hoped that the country's people will tackle the natural calamity with courage as they did in the past.

"At the same time, we also call upon the government to stand by all people rising above politicization," Fakhrul said.

According to the latest bulletin of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), cyclonic storm Mocha has started crossing the coastal district of Cox's Bazar and the neighbouring country Myanmar's north coast with a speed of up to 215 km per hour (kmph).

Tariful Newaz Kabir, a meteorologist of the BMD, told UNB that the cyclone has started crossing Cox's Bazar and "it will completely cross Bangladesh between afternoon and evening today (May 14, 2023)."

Drizzling, accompanied by a gusty wind, has started in St Martin's Island and nearby Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar soon after the cyclonic storm Mocha started crossing Bangladesh's coast this morning.

BMD said the maximum sustained wind speed near the storm's center was about 190 kph, rising to 215 kph, in gusts or squalls.