Most of the previous wind speed data in Bangladesh is available from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Average values calculated from such wind data during 1961 to 1993 are presented in Table

Annual average wind speed of different sites of Bangladesh during 1961 to 1993[Bangladesh Meteorological Department]

Some of the meteorological stations have automatic data logging systems which record wind-speed data onto paper rolls but rest are recorded by office stuff manually. These are collected and sent to the Headquarter in Dhaka where they are entered on compute r and made available at an agreed cost to interested parties for whether forecasting purposes.

Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) obtained and reviewed Bangladesh Meteorological Department wind data with a view to establishing the prospects for wind energy and the following information about the wind climate in Bangladesh had been found:

• Wind speeds at most Met Office stations appear to be low, with typical annual mean wind speeds of 1 to 2 m/s, at heights between 5 to 10 meter above ground le vel.

• Wind speeds appear to be higher in the eastern part of the country than the western part.

• Wind speeds in the coastal areas appear to be higher than inland.

• Wind speed exhibits a strong seasonal cycle, lowest in the winter and higher in the summer.

• Wind speed exhibits a diurnal cycle, generally peaking at noon and weakest at night.