Dhaka – Bangladesh may face a powerful earthquake any time, government officials have rung this alarm, as it sits atop an active seismic zone.
The projection follows a series of tremors that pounded neighbouring nations Myanmar and Thailand on Friday. The impact of the earthquake was also felt as far as in China, India and Vietnam.
Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence (BFSCD) sounded this warning on Saturday, just a day after the quake claimed more than 1,000 lives there.
Rescuers are still digging through the rubble of collapsed buildings in a desperate search for survivors in Myanmar and Thailand.
The BFSCD has, therefore, urged the authorities concerned for caution and adequate preparations to deal with this humanitarian catastrophe.
Experts said a horrible situation would have arisen had the Friday’s earthquake jolted the fault-line on the tectonic plate crossing Bangladesh.
BFSCD media cell in-charge Talha bin Jasim told reporters that a powerful earthquake at its aftershock were felt in different regions on March 28.
The magnitude of the earthquake was 7.7 and its aftershock 6.4 on the Richter scale respectively, he said. As a result, both Myanmar and Thailand have been facing huge losses. There is a possibility of an earthquake of the same magnitude in Bangladesh as well, he added.
Four regions — Chattogram, Sylhet, Mymensingh and Dhaka in particular — are at high risk, according to Jasim.
Geologist Syed Humayun Akhtar says there is enough power accumulated on the fault-line between Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar to cause an earthquake of over 8.0 magnitude.
If any tremor jolts the area, Dhaka, one of the most densely-populated megacities, may face the highest level of disaster along with Sylhet and Chattogram, he has said.
If one percent building gets collapsed in Dhaka during any earthquake, according to the expert, some 300,000 people might be injured.
“It is necessary to construct earthquake-resistant buildings and hold regular fire drills and also raise awareness to deal with the situation.”
Experts say that Rajshahi region in the north is facing medium level of risk, while Khulna and Barishal of the southern region are at low risk.
According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department, some 28 earthquakes were reported in and around Bangladesh in 2017. The figure rose to 41 in 2023. But the number of quakes increased to 53 in 2024.
Some 60 tremors jolted the tectonic plates of Bangladesh-Myanmar-India region in last 90 days, cited the Met office.
Professor Mehedi Ahmed Ansari, who teaches civil engineering at the country’s top tech school BUET, said there has been a trend in the occurrence of light and medium tremors in this region.
“It indicates that a powerful earthquake may occur at any time. We apprehend the return of an earthquake with a magnitude of 7 on the Richter scale.”
Taking this precaution into cognizance, the BFSCD has issued a nine-point directive to deal with this natural calamity.
The directives include construction of earthquake-resistant buildings in line with the Bangladesh National Building Code 2020, renovation of jerry-built buildings, strengthening of fire prevention systems in all multi-storeyed and commercial buildings and maintenance of utility services like gas, water and electricity lines.