Dhaka: Bangladesh and Japan on Wednesday signed an ‘Exchange of Notes’ on the project for the improvement of meteorological radar system in Dhaka and Rangpur which is expected to contribute to further improvement in the accuracy of weather forecast.

Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka Shiro Sadoshima and Senior Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) Mohammad Mejbahuddin signed the exchange of notes at the ERD representing respective governments.

Since 1986, Japan has provided grant assistance to set up meteorological radar stations in Dhaka, Rangpur, Cox’s Bazar, Khepupar and Mouluvibazar. These five radar stations cover the entire country for weather forecast, according to the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka.

At this time, the government of Japan provides the grant assistance (up to JPY 24 million) for the detailed design on the project with a view to upgrading radar stations in Dhaka and Rangpur installing modern S-Band Doppler radars.

As compared to the existing radars at these two sites with the maximum coverage of a radius of around 200km, the radars designed this time would have the maximum coverage of a radius of around 400km.

Also, the Doppler radars would enable the Meteorological Department to collect more accurate data regarding the intensity of rains.

This means that the radars would provide more detailed forecasts on precipitation intensity on an area-by-area basis.

These Doppler radars can collect three dimensional meteorological data on atmospheric moisture and wind velocity distribution much faster than the existing radars in Dhaka and Rangpur, said the official release.

This would further contribute to the improvement in the accuracy of area-by-area weather forecast, it said.

With these modern radars, it would be possible, for example, to forecast the advent and the course of cyclones much earlier with greater accuracy.

The other three radar stations in Cox’s Bazar, Khepupara and Mouluvibazar are already equipped with similar S-Band Doppler radars through the grant assistance by the government of Japan.