BANGLADESH is considered an earthquake-prone region because of its location at the junction of the Indian, Eurasian and Burmese plates. The most recent earthquake of 7.7 magnitude in Myanmar and Thailand, leaving more than 2,000 people dead, is an ominous indication of the possibility of a major earthquake in the near future. The Fire Service and Civil Defence issued an official alert on March 28, identifying Dhaka, Chattogram, Mymensingh and Sylhet as high-risk regions and urged all concerned to take a nine-point measure that included constructing earthquake-resistant buildings, strengthening vulnerable buildings, ensuring proper maintenance of utility lines and improving public awareness and skills in earthquake prevention and response. These are important directives, but all parties concerned should incorporate them in their routine disaster prevention and management activities. Earthquake preparedness cannot be ensured with an order from the fire service offcials at a time of heightened risk, particularly when there are available data on the seismic movement in the region.
In 2023, when the National Centre for Seismology of India reported 14 earthquakes within a 300km radius of Dhaka, experts in Bangladesh suggested that these foreshocks could indicate a major earthquake in the capital. An earlier survey of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha predicted that around 865,000 buildings might collapse in an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 originating in the fault line in Tangail. The likely death toll has been estimated to be around 210,000, with 229,000 sustaining injuries if the disaster happens during the daytime. Unplanned urbanisation over the last few decades has led to a chaotic, congested concrete jungle where most of the buildings are not earthquake-resilient. The government has carried out risk assessment and mapping for earthquakes in major cities as well as set up more earthquake observatories and specialised equipment to detect tremors in vulnerable locations. It has a National Earthquake Contingency Plan that includes anticipating risks and disaster management after a major earthquake. It is also expected to have an adequate number of trained volunteers to keep the public informed of earthquake preparedness and response. Sadly, the plan has largely remained on paper.
It is virtually impossible to predict when a major earthquake would occur. It means that the government shlud have a system that is ready to respond any time. The primary emphasis should be given on extensive awareness and practical training. This includes regular drills in all public and private establishments, retrofitting risky buildings, enforcing earthquake safety technologies in new buildings and implementing the government guidelines on how to deal with the aftermath of an earthquake. The government should build capacity for prompt response, rescue and evacuation operations and treatment facilities in hospitals.
