As there was a lack of communication and cooperation among the meteorology department, Coast Guard and marine department, the forecast about the tornado that hit fishermen as well as the coastal people last month could not reach them timely, they added.

The roundtable titled ' Experience of Tornado in September: Ways to Protect the Fishermen' was organised by the Coast Trust at the National Press Club in the city.

The roundtable was organised in association with Jago Nari, Sangkalpa Trust, Dwip Unnayan Sangstha, Sagorika, SEHD, Manusher Jonno, Action Aid and Care Bangladesh.

The speakers said the meteorology department as usual issued its weather bulletins that took more time to reach the media for broadcast.

Moreover, the wireless communication system of the Coast Guard also proved ineffective during the time when tornado lashed the area, they added.

The speakers alleged that there is no secured shelter where the fishing vessels could take shelter during any natural calamities.

They called for transferring meteorology department to shipping ministry from the defence and shifting its headquarters from Dhaka to Chittagong.

They also suggested establishing modern radar and facsimile centres, broadcasting accurate weather bulletins in association with the weather centres of Kolkata and Bangkok, prohibiting fishing in the Bay of Bengal during disaster-prone three months.

The speakers demanded identification as well as withdrawal of hazardous vessels.

They also demanded compensation for the families of the fishermen who lost their lives in the tornado.

The roundtable was moderated by Dr Tofayel Ahmed and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of Coast Trust while Mahbubur Rahman MP, Delwar Hossain MP, Commander Mokbul Hossain, principal of Marine Fisheries Academy Chittagong and Aminul Islam, deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar, were present on the occasion.