By Momin Mahadi

As Bangladesh continues to experience frequent earthquakes that shake its cities, towns, and villages, people are living under the constant fear of a major disaster. In a developing country like Bangladesh, such tremors have become increasingly common. Meanwhile, one of the deadliest twin earthquakes in recent memory struck Venezuela, causing the collapse of thousands of buildings. At least 1,943 people were killed and more than 10,000 were injured. Thousands of others remained trapped beneath the rubble, and due to limited rescue capabilities, many could not be reached even after nearly a week. The capital, Caracas, suffered the most extensive destruction.

Why did such a catastrophic situation occur? The answer is simple: neither the government nor the people were adequately prepared. A lack of awareness and preparedness turned a natural disaster into a humanitarian catastrophe. As rescue operations were delayed, the smell of decomposing bodies began to spread within 24 hours of the building collapses. Families of the missing, however, refused to leave the disaster sites, hoping against hope that their loved ones might still be found alive. One such individual was Mirella Herrera, who continued to wait beside the ruins of her son's home from the very first day.

Preliminary satellite assessments released by NASA indicated that approximately 59,000 buildings in Venezuela were either damaged or completely destroyed. According to an analysis by researchers Corey Scher and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University, based on satellite radar imagery collected on June 25, nearly 58,870 buildings were estimated to have suffered severe damage or total destruction.

Despite witnessing such devastating examples abroad, Bangladesh's Ministry of Disaster Management has not undertaken sufficient public awareness initiatives. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, 32 earthquakes of varying magnitudes were recorded in Bangladesh and surrounding regions during the first six months of this year alone. Six of those occurred in June. February recorded the highest number with twelve earthquakes, followed by six in June, four in May, and two each in January and March.

Among the 32 earthquakes, thirteen were classified as light, nine as minor, eight as moderate, one as very light, and one as a major earthquake. On February 22, a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred approximately 3,341 kilometers from Dhaka, making it the strongest earthquake recorded this year. Most recently, on June 28, a magnitude 4.1 earthquake was recorded about 334 kilometers from Dhaka. Earlier in June, additional tremors of magnitudes ranging from 3.1 to 5.5 were also recorded at varying distances from the capital.

Perhaps even more concerning is the increasing number of earthquakes originating near Dhaka. From January 1 of last year to June 22 of this year, several earthquakes had epicenters close to the capital. The most significant occurred on November 21, 2025, when a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck. Its epicenter was located near Madhabdi in Narsingdi District, only about 13 kilometers from Dhaka and at a depth of 10 kilometers. According to government reports, four people died in Dhaka, five in Narsingdi, and one in Narayanganj. More than 450 people were injured, including 252 in Gazipur alone.

Within hours of the main quake, three additional tremors were felt. Three of the four earthquakes originated in different upazilas of Narsingdi, while one originated in Badda, Dhaka. In the following days, more earthquakes occurred in Palash, Badda, Ghorashal, and Shibpur, reinforcing concerns about the seismic vulnerability of the central region of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh classifies earthquake-prone areas into three seismic zones. Zone-1 represents the highest-risk areas, Zone-2 denotes moderate risk, and Zone-3 represents relatively lower-risk regions. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department's seismic hazard map, the northern and southeastern regions of the country fall within the highest-risk category. These include parts of Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions, Tangail, Gazipur, portions of Narsingdi, the entire Kishoreganj District, Brahmanbaria, Khagrachhari, and Rangamati. By comparison, Khulna, Jashore, Barishal, and Patuakhali fall within the lowest seismic risk zone.

Bangladesh's earthquake history demonstrates that between 1976 and 2015, the country experienced at least five major earthquakes, most of which originated in Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Rangamati, Bandarban, and Cox's Bazar. Experts therefore warn that stronger earthquakes may occur in these regions in the future. In addition, the Sylhet-Mymensingh region bordering the Indian states of Assam and Meghalaya has long been identified as highly vulnerable.

Geologists have identified five major seismic source zones surrounding Bangladesh. One extends from Myanmar to Noakhali, another from Noakhali to Sylhet, and a third continues from Sylhet into India. The Dauki Fault near Haluaghat in Mymensingh and the Madhupur Fault are also considered significant earthquake-generating structures.

Experts generally categorize potentially devastating earthquakes affecting Bangladesh into two groups: those with magnitudes of 8.0 or greater and those measuring 7.0 or above on the Richter scale. Earthquakes exceeding magnitude 8 typically recur every 250 to 300 years, while those above magnitude 7 tend to recur approximately every 125 to 150 years.

History reminds us of several catastrophic earthquakes affecting this region. The Great Arakan Earthquake of 1762 measured approximately 8.5 and severely impacted Chattogram, Feni, and Cumilla. It was followed by the Great Assam Earthquake of 1897 with a magnitude of 8.7, the 1918 Balisera Valley earthquake in Sylhet measuring 7.6, and the 1930 Dhubri earthquake in Assam measuring 7.1.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Myanmar experienced two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 6.4 on March 28 this year. Their epicenter was located at a depth of 16 kilometers near Sagaing in central Myanmar. The tremors were felt across neighboring Thailand and Bangladesh. While Myanmar suffered thousands of deaths and Thailand experienced extensive damage, Bangladesh fortunately escaped major destruction. Nevertheless, the event served as a serious warning of the country's vulnerability.

Given these realities, Bangladesh must prioritize public awareness and preparedness. During earthquakes, people should remain calm, avoid panic and stampedes, and follow established safety procedures. At the same time, I respectfully urge the current government to enforce the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) rigorously and ensure that all new buildings are constructed with earthquake-resistant standards.

Furthermore, every building more than twenty years old should undergo comprehensive structural safety assessments. Vulnerable buildings must be identified, and residents should be informed and warned accordingly. The Fire Service and Civil Defence should be equipped with modern search-and-rescue equipment in adequate quantities. Existing fire stations located within densely built-up areas should also be relocated to more open spaces to ensure uninterrupted emergency response following major earthquakes.

Only through public awareness, responsible governance, strict enforcement of building regulations, and effective disaster preparedness can Bangladesh reduce the devastating consequences of a future major earthquake.

The writer is the acting editor of the Daily Purbavas.
Email: mominmahadi@gmail.com