At least five Dhaka University students were injured on Friday morning after jumping from rooftops and upper floors of several halls in panic during the earthquake that shook parts of the country.
A student from Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall suffered serious injuries after leaping from the fourth floor. Two others from the same hall — Tanzeer Ahmed of the 2018–19 Mass Communication and Journalism batch and another student from the 2018–19 Theatre and Performance Studies batch — were also injured after jumping.
According to the Times of Bangladesh’s Dhaka University correspondent, a student from Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall jumped from the second floor and is believed to have fractured his leg. Several students from Kabi Jasim Uddin Hall and Fazlul Huq Hall were also reportedly injured while jumping in fear. Their identities were not immediately confirmed.
Students said cracks appeared in several hall buildings immediately after the tremor, triggering panic. Some attempted to rush downstairs and ended up jumping from balconies and rooftops.
All injured students were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The university authorities have yet to issue an official statement.
The quake struck at 10:38am, with the USGS measuring the magnitude at 5.5 and the Bangladesh Meteorological Department reporting it as 5.7.
The epicentre was seven kilometres from Ghorashal in Narsingdi, at a depth of 10 kilometres.
Earlier in the morning, Pakistan experienced a 5.2-magnitude quake, followed hours later by the stronger tremor in Bangladesh.
The earthquake caused buildings across Dhaka to shake, prompting residents to rush outdoors. Reports emerged of tiles cracking and items falling from tables. A building in Badda’s Link Road area was also reported to have leaned onto a neighbouring structure.
