RAJUK must ensure earthquake resilience of buildings to evade terrible risks

Dhaka city is at risk of earthquakes. Nearly 865,000 buildings would collapse in Dhaka city if an earthquake of 6.9 magnitude strikes at the Madhupur fault in Tangail, near Dhaka. Nearly 210,000 people would die and another 229,000 would sustain injuries if the quake struck in the daytime.
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), responsible for overseeing buildings constructed following codes, said about the length of possible failure of them. The RAJUK survey report also said the economic loss would be close to US $25 billion, which is nearly Tk 2.62 trillion. The government will have to spend another $44 billion (Tk 4.62 trillion) for renovating and reconstructing the damaged buildings.
Experts said the number of deaths would be higher if the quake struck in the daytime as more people stay at commercial buildings and factories. Constructing the buildings filling up marshy lands and violation of building codes have been identified as the primary reasons for the collapse of the buildings in Dhaka. Besides, the report added that many buildings in Dhaka have been constructed illegally.
For the first time, RAJUK carried out such a large-scale survey in the country keeping the appalling aftermath of the earthquake in mind. Bangladesh is at risk of earthquakes due to its geographical location. Two fault lines are there below Bangladesh. One is the Madhupur fault line, which is closer to Dhaka, and another is the Dauki fault line in Sylhet. If an earthquake of 7.1 magnitude strikes at Dauki’s fault, nearly 40,935 buildings will collapse in Sylhet. Around 16,000 people would die and another 28,000 sustain injuries if it strikes in the daytime. The economic loss of the quake would be $5 billion (Tk 525 billion). About $7 billion (Tk 730 billion) would be required to renovate and reconstruct the damaged buildings, it added.
RAJUK must ensure earthquake resilience of buildings and fire, and other codes of complaint in building construction in Dhaka, while the government should introduce fire and earthquake drills in each community, youth group, and educational institution with zero tolerance for building code compliance.