A powerful earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale could trigger a catastrophic disaster in Chattogram, posing risk of collapse or severe damage for around 70 per cent of the city’s buildings.
Of the more than 3.82 lakh buildings in the city, at least 2.67 lakh are likely to be damaged to varying degrees, and many structures may collapse entirely.
Experts have raised alarm over the vulnerability of Chattogram’s buildings during an earthquake. They say widespread non-compliance with construction laws and regulations, unauthorised structural modifications, and the use of substandard building materials have significantly increased the risk. They also claim that relevant agencies have virtually no preparedness for rescue operations or emergency response in the event of a major earthquake.
According to experts and Fire Service officials, the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), the agency responsible for oversight during construction, has fallen far short of carrying out its duties. They said that the CDA has shown serious negligence and deficiencies in supervision, leading to heightened risk. CDA officials themselves acknowledge that due to manpower shortage, oversight during construction has been inadequate.
Concerns over Chattogram’s vulnerability resurfaced after an earthquake shook the country on Friday morning. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the quake measured 5.7 on the Richter scale, with the epicentre in Madhabdi, Narsingdi, while the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude of 5.5. Ten people were reportedly killed and over a hundred injured.
Although Chattogram has not experienced major recent earthquake damage, an earthquake on 13 April 2016 caused 12 buildings in the city to lean, apparently as a consequence of a 6.99-magnitude earthquake centred in Myanmar. Before that, on 21 November 1997, a five-storey building named Sawdagar Villa collapsed in Hamjarbag under Panchlaish Police Station, killing 23 people and injuring more than 200.
Over 250,000 buildings at risk
According to CDA data, Chattogram city currently has 382,111 buildings. Of these, 278,005 are single-storey structures. There are 90,444 buildings between two and five storeys, 13,135 buildings between six and ten storeys, and 527 over ten storeys. Ten buildings in the city now exceed 20 storeys. Most of the structures were not built in compliance with building regulations.
No recent survey has been carried out to assess the seismic vulnerability of Chattogram’s buildings and infrastructure. However, between 2009 and 2011, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief conducted an earthquake risk assessment survey in the region under the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP), which also covered Dhaka and Sylhet.
According to that survey, there were 182,000 buildings in the Chattogram City Corporation area at the time (primarily multi-storey structures). Of these, 168,150—around 92 per cent—were identified as vulnerable to earthquake damage. Hospitals, clinics, and educational institutions were found to be most at risk.
Professor Mohammad Jahangir Alam, former vice-chancellor of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), who led the Chattogram segment of the CDMP survey, stated that the city faces extreme seismic risk. He noted that 70 per cent of buildings in the city would be damaged if struck by an earthquake over magnitude 7, as most structures do not follow the National Building Code or include earthquake-resistant features. The CDA, he added, has failed to carry out proper oversight.
Professor Jahangir Alam added that the city has no real preparedness for dealing with the aftermath of such a disaster. “Fire Service, the City Corporation, and the CDA all lack dedicated earthquake readiness. They do not have the equipment required for rescue operations. Many buildings have been constructed in cramped areas, and some lanes are so narrow that rescue vehicles or ambulances cannot pass.”
Subhash Barua, architect and member of the Planners Forum for Chittagong, said, “The fear caused in Chattogram by a 5.7-magnitude tremor is telling. One building has already tilted. If Friday’s quake had lasted even 10–20 seconds longer, the damage would have been much greater—not only buildings but lives would have been lost.”
According to the Chattogram Metropolitan Building (Construction, Development, Preservation and Removal) Rules 2008, eight stages of approval are required from the CDA when constructing a building: land-use clearance, construction approval, initiation notice and documents from technical personnel, technical reports up to plinth level, completion notice, certification by technical personnel, occupancy certificate, and renewal of the occupancy certificate every five years. In practice, although many buildings obtain initial design approval, owners often ignore the subsequent mandatory stages.
Md Anwar Hossain, assistant director of the Fire Service and Civil Defence (Chattogram Region), said that the Fire Service is prepared to follow the mandated protocols for rescue operations after an earthquake. However, most of the buildings in the city were constructed without following the rules, increasing the risk of casualties.
Engineer Monzar-e-Khorshed Alam, chairman of the Chittagong Engineers Institution, said, “Buildings can be made safe through reinforcing by retrofitting, and those that are technically impossible to make safe must be demolished. Narrow roads should be widened so that rescue vehicles can pass. Fire Service and other agencies must regularly raise public awareness.”
Dr Muhammad Atikur Rahman, professor of Geography at the University of Chittagong, said, “Chattogram is an extremely high-risk seismic zone. Preparedness must start now. Short, medium, and long-term plans are essential. Public awareness and training are crucial, along with frequent earthquake drills.”
