Dhaka is at the highest risk from earthquakes, highlighting a major danger.

ফাইল ছবি

News Desk:
In Dhaka and surrounding areas, earthquakes have been felt four times in the span of two days. Of these, three originated in Narsingdi and one in Dhaka. On Friday (21 November) morning, one earthquake occurred, and on Saturday (22 November) three more occurred at different times, increasing public concern.

On Friday morning, an earthquake of magnitude 5.7 on the Richter scale struck Madhabdi in Narsingdi, about 25 kilometers from Dhaka. The earthquake originated 10 kilometers below the surface. The shallower the origin, the stronger the tremor. The intensity of this earthquake was the highest in recent memory, shaking Dhaka and other parts of the country. Ten people, including children, were killed, and more than 600 were injured.

Within 24 hours on Saturday (22 November), a 3.3 magnitude earthquake occurred at 10:36 AM, followed by another at 6:00 PM with a magnitude of 4.3, both originating in Narsingdi. In the evening, another earthquake of magnitude 3.7 was felt near Badda in Dhaka.

Experts consider these mild to moderate earthquakes as warning signs of a major earthquake. The risk to Dhaka is highlighted even in statistics from the past five years by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

Analysis of earthquake data recorded by the Meteorological Department from 17 February 2021 to 22 November 2025 shows that during this period, 39 earthquakes originated within Bangladesh. Of these, 11 originated within 86 kilometers of Dhaka, meaning more than 28% of earthquakes occurred near Dhaka. Their magnitudes ranged from 3.3 to 5.7, with the highest being 5.7 in Narsingdi on Friday. The second highest (5.6) originated in Ramganj, Laxmipur. The remaining 28 earthquakes occurred 100 to 267 kilometers from Dhaka.

Over the past five years, earthquakes have occurred in 18 districts: Dhaka, Narsingdi, Narayanganj, Tangail, Sylhet, Netrokona, Dinajpur, Habiganj, Rangpur, Comilla, Laxmipur, Pabna, Habiganj, Rangamati, Chuadanga, Shariatpur, Jessore, and Kurigram.

Experts say that recent small and moderate earthquakes indicate a potential major earthquake in the future. Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable due to its geographical location. If a large earthquake occurs, Dhaka will be the most affected because most buildings were not constructed according to building codes, and no government has made adequate preparations to reduce damage from such natural disasters.

Professor Syed Humayun Akhtar, a seismologist who has studied earthquakes for decades, said that the recent earthquake occurred at the junction of the Indo-Burma tectonic plate. The tremor was strong, causing significant damage. The severe shaking felt was the highest in recent years in the country. The energy had been trapped and has now begun to release, which could lead to further earthquakes.

He also warned that due to unplanned urbanization, Dhaka’s risk level is always high. No major earthquake has struck so close to Dhaka in the past few decades, and several generations have never experienced such a quake.

Professor Mehedi Ahmed Ansari of BUET’s Civil Engineering Department said that buildings in Dhaka need immediate inspection, especially to ensure compliance with building codes. The government does not need to spend money; RAJUK can inspect buildings and certify which are constructed according to code.

Regarding cracks in buildings after the recent earthquakes, he said such damage is expected. Dhaka has about 2.1 million buildings, of which 1.5 million are one- to two-story structures. About six hundred thousand buildings are four- to six-story, and there are even 10- and 20-story buildings. If a magnitude 7 earthquake occurs within 100 kilometers of Dhaka, two to three hundred thousand people could be affected, and 35% of buildings in the city could collapse.