A 5.5-magnitude earthquake shook parts of the country, including Dhaka, at 9:35 am on Saturday. Apart from the capital, the quake was also felt in Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Rangpur, Chuadanga, Noakhali, Kushtia and other parts of the country.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicentre of the earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale was in Ramganj upazila of Lakshmipur district.
Rabiul Haque, officer-in-charge of the Met Office, said that the place of origin of the earthquake was Ramganj.
Many people came out of their houses in fear during the earthquake.
One hundred workers of a garment factory--Amir Shirt at Chauddagram in Cumilla--were injured when they rushed out of the factory during the quake. Three of the injured were sent to Cumilla Medical College Hospital.
The workers were injured as they started stampeding out of the factory and jumping from the rooftop, said witnesses, adding that no one could come out as the gate of the factory was closed at that time.
Chauddagram Fire Service Station Officer Mehedi Hasan said that after getting information on the accident, they rushed to the spot and rescued the injured persons and sent them to Chauddagram Upazila Health Complex.
Syed Humayun Akhtar, Seismologist and Vice-Chancellor at Bangladesh Open University, told the media that mild to moderate earthquakes have been occurring in parts of the country for several years. “This is a precursor to a major earthquake."
"The origin of a big earthquake is anywhere in the Cox's Bazar zone from Sylhet. Now if an earthquake of magnitude 8 occurs anywhere in this subduction zone, the damage may be more in Dhaka than the area near the origin. Because Dhaka is densely populated city and the government is also less prepared. That's why risk of damage to Dhaka is high,” he added.
“The government should take short and long-term plans. The infrastructure we live in, with unplanned and uncontrolled urbanisation, has many buildings of weak nature that can collapse in an earthquake. Some buildings may collapse or collapse in an earthquake due to design flaws,” he said.
Cumilla University
Cracks developed in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, Nawab Faizunnissa Chaudhurani Hall, and Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall of Cumilla University.
Students got panicked in the halls of residence during the earthquake. Many people quickly left the hall and took shelter under the open sky. At this time, all's eyes were filled with fear and worry.
Dhaka University
Minhajur, a student of Islamic History and Culture Department, jumped from the second floor of Masterda Surya Sen Hall in fear during the earthquake. Minhajur jumped from the window of room number 233 of that hall. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
“I was asleep in my room. Suddenly I woke up with a jolt during the earthquake. I was scared to see the room shaking. I heard the sound of breaking glass. Apart from this, I could hear running noises below. Then I jumped down from the window,” Minhajur said.
Md Zakir Hossain Bhuiyan, provost of Surya Sen Hall said, “Minhazur Rahman has been admitted to orthopedics department of DMCH. He suffered an ankle injury.”
During the earthquake, the plasters of Dhaka University's Haji Muhammad Muhsin Hall collapsed. The glass door of the reading room in the hall was broken. The students started running in panic.
Talking to some students, it is known that Muhsin Hall, which was opened in 1967, is old and the plasters often fall down due to various reasons. In the past there have been cases of ceiling fans falling off in this hall.
Md Masudur Rahman, Provost of Muhsin Hall, said, “The parts of the hall damaged by the earthquake will be informed to the university's engineering department and action will be taken soon.”
