Dhaka, Jul 02 (V7N) — Bangladesh has experienced 52 earthquakes over the past one and a half years, with 39 of them originating within the country, raising fresh concerns among experts over the growing risk of a major seismic disaster.

According to data from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department's Earthquake Monitoring Center, the recorded earthquakes ranged in magnitude from 2.5 to 5.7 on the Richter scale. Sylhet experienced the highest number of tremors, while Narsingdi recorded eight earthquakes and Rangpur four. Several other quakes originated along the Bangladesh-India border, as well as in Myanmar and Bhutan.

Experts warn that Bangladesh is becoming increasingly vulnerable because no major earthquake has struck the region in nearly 150 years. They fear that accumulated tectonic stress could trigger a powerful earthquake in the future.

A survey conducted under the Integrated Disaster Management Programme (IDMP) estimates that nearly 72,000 buildings in Dhaka could collapse if a magnitude 7.0 earthquake strikes the capital. The report also warns that ruptured gas pipelines could ignite widespread fires, significantly worsening the disaster.

Last year, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake centered in Madhabdi, Narsingdi, claimed 10 lives and injured more than 500 people, highlighting the country's vulnerability even to moderate tremors.

Rubaiyat Kabir, Officer-in-Charge of the Earthquake Monitoring Center, said the number of earthquakes has increased noticeably over the past two to three years compared to previous years. He noted that while Bangladesh recorded fewer than 10 locally originated earthquakes annually between 2015 and 2021, seismic activity has risen significantly in recent years.

He added that 13 of the earthquakes recorded over the past 18 months measured between magnitude 4.0 and 5.0. Even Dhaka's Badda area experienced a magnitude 3.7 earthquake, demonstrating that seismic activity is occurring close to densely populated urban centers.

Professor Dr. Mehedi Ahmed Ansari of the Department of Civil Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) warned that nearly 60 percent of the area under RAJUK consists of soft or reclaimed land, making it particularly susceptible to severe damage during strong earthquakes.

He stressed the need for strict enforcement of earthquake-resistant construction standards, especially since nearly 600,000 of the 2.1 million buildings within RAJUK's jurisdiction are multi-storey structures, many of which were allegedly built without fully complying with the national building code.

Dr. Ansari also emphasized the importance of assessing the structural integrity of existing buildings and strengthening vulnerable structures. He further recommended installing automatic gas release systems to prevent gas accumulation and post-earthquake fires, which could become a devastating secondary disaster.

Professor Dr. Md. Zillur Rahman of the Department of Disaster Science and Climate Resilience at the University of Dhaka said government resources alone would be insufficient to respond effectively if thousands of buildings collapsed during a major earthquake.

He called for the development of a nationwide network of trained community volunteers who could assist in rescue and emergency response efforts immediately after a disaster.

Experts unanimously agree that earthquakes cannot be predicted in advance. However, they stress that strict enforcement of building codes, improved urban planning, public awareness, and comprehensive disaster preparedness can significantly reduce casualties and economic losses when a major earthquake eventually occurs.

END/SMA/AJ