Earthquake fears mount in Dhaka amid rising tremors
Syed Shemul Parvez :
The people of Bangladesh, particularly residents of the capital, Dhaka, are experiencing growing panic following the recent series of earthquakes.
Sources indicate that the region is becoming increasingly prone to seismic activity due to its position on a major geological fault line.
The most alarming aspect is the occurrence of two earthquakes within the first week of January 2025. On January 7, an earthquake struck Dhaka and other parts of the country, with a magnitude of 7.1 recorded in Tibet, where more than 100 people tragically lost their lives.
The tremors were also felt in Nepal and India. Earlier, on January 3, another earthquake was reported in Dhaka-Sylhet and surrounding areas.
Experts warn that these repeated quakes, including over 60 recorded since 2024, signal the need for urgent disaster preparedness. Smaller earthquakes, they say, often precede a larger, more devastating one. Dhaka is among the 20 cities most vulnerable to earthquakes globally.
Bangladesh faces a growing risk of a major earthquake, with no significant event occurring in the region for nearly 75 years.
A joint study by BUET and the government suggests that a 7.5 magnitude earthquake could result in the collapse of 72,000 buildings in Dhaka, creating 70 million tons of rubble. Despite these warnings, no substantial measures have been taken to mitigate the potential damage from such a disaster.
In the past few months, Bangladesh has experienced more than 50 earthquakes of varying magnitudes. The country is located in an active earthquake zone, according to the US Geological Survey, and its vulnerability is underscored by a Disaster Risk Index placing Dhaka among the most at-risk cities worldwide.
Historically, Bangladesh has faced significant earthquakes, including five measuring over 7 on the Richter scale between 1869 and 1930. Notably, the 1918 Srimangal earthquake caused considerable damage. More recently, in April 2024, an earthquake measuring 4.1 hit Bandarban, and a 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck Rajshahi in December 2023.
Experts attribute this seismic activity to the movement of three tectonic plates converging around Bangladesh. Professor Mehedi Ahmed Ansari from BUET explained that the collision of the Eurasian, Indo-Australian, and Myanmar plates in the region increases the risk of significant tremors.
The Fire Service and Civil Defense Department has acquired equipment to respond to earthquakes, but experts argue that without reinforcing buildings, the risk of fatalities from collapsed structures remains high. Unplanned gas and electricity lines in Dhaka further exacerbate the risk of widespread damage.
Lt. Col. Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Director of Operations at the Fire Service, emphasised the importance of earthquake preparedness, including ensuring buildings are earthquake-proof and having emergency supplies ready.
Dr. Md. Zillur Rahman, Professor at Dhaka University’s Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, also warned that while small quakes are common along plate boundaries, a large magnitude 7 earthquake could cause extensive damage across regions such as Mymensingh, Rangpur, Sylhet, Chittagong, and Dhaka, where buildings are particularly vulnerable.
The growing frequency of earthquakes has sparked calls for stronger preventive measures, as experts fear that the country is ill-prepared for a major seismic event.