Cyclone codenamed "Bijli" formed in the Bay of Bengal may hit Bangladesh's south and southeastern coasts Friday midnight, the meteorological office in Dhaka said.

To cope with this, the authorities suspended loading and unloading of goods in Chittagong, the biggest seaport in southeast Bangladesh and cancelled all flights to the port city as precautionary measures.

Weather forecasters already asked to hoist danger signal No. 7 for Chittagong, signal No. 6 for Cox's Bazar, a seaside city in southeast Bangladesh and signal No. 5 for Mongla seaport in southwest of Bangladesh.

Dhaka Met Office said in a bulletin that the storm is approaching the coasts with wind speed of 90 kms within the radius of 44 kms of storm.

It said "Bijli" may gain strength further and strike the southern and southeastern coasts after midnight. It may sweep over the coastal districts with wind speed of 120 kms per hour.

The cyclone was located at 200 kms away from Mongla port at 5: 30 p.m. local time.

People in low-lying areas in Cox's Bazar sea resort town have been asked to go to cyclone shelters. All passenger launches have to suspend their services until further order.

Officials said people in the coastal districts have been advised to stay in safe places. Cyclone centers have been opened and volunteers kept on alert. Weekly holiday in 11 coastal districts was cancelled Friday.

Reports said southern and southeastern coastal districts were experiencing rains and gusty winds from Friday morning as an impact of the approaching cyclone.

Devastating cyclone "Sidr" ravaged Bangladesh's southern and southwestern areas on Nov. 15, 2007, leaving more than 3,000 people killed, millions affected.

(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2009)