This is the main hindrance to establish a modern early warning system, they said, adding that emphasis should be given to modernise the data collection and forecasting technology.

The consultation workshop on 'Early Warning System Study of ADB' was organised by the BWDB in collaboration with Asian Development Bank and Netherlands government at Spectra Convention Centre in the city.

Syed Mohammad Zobaer, secretary to water resource ministry, said at present all data on rainfall and water level are collected manually and sent to Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) every morning by HF radios.

Hua Du, country director of ADB, said the pilot telemetry system installed at 14 locations does not work properly due to lack of maintenance and obsolete communication system.

Sharif Rafiqul Islam, director general of BWDB, said modern and reliable forecasting system in a flood-prone country like Bangladesh cannot be efficient without real-time data.

"Installation of telemetry to cover all stations is very expensive. For this reason, telemetry should be installed only at key locations," said Abu Saleh Khan, local consultant of ADB, while presenting the keynote paper on 'Data Improvement'.

A weak cyclone warning and weather forecasting system and a weak disaster awareness programme are the main causes of huge casualties, said Water Expert MH Siddiqui.

The government has given priority to the development of weather forecasting system using satellite imageries and computer methods. So cyclone warning signals can now be disseminated to vulnerable people at the earliest time by radio, television and other information media at frequent intervals, said Azizul Haque, director of BWDB Planning-1.

ADB Project Director Sazedul Karim Chowdhury, Team leader Emaduddin Ahmad, and local consultants Zia ul Hoque, Awlad Hossain and Ahmadul Hossain also took part in the workshop.