At least three people were killed and several others injured on Friday when a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Bangladesh, according to police officials. The quake, which hit shortly after midday, caused widespread panic across parts of the country, prompting thousands of residents to flee their homes as buildings trembled.
The United States Geological Survey reported that the epicentre was located in Narsingdi, a city about 40 kilometres from the capital, Dhaka. The densely populated region, filled with residential blocks, markets, and industrial structures, experienced some of the strongest shaking, raising concerns about the resilience of older and informal buildings.
Authorities in Dhaka said the quake was strong enough to be felt across much of the capital. Residents described the sudden jolt as brief but intense, sending people rushing down staircases and gathering in open streets. Several makeshift structures collapsed in different neighbourhoods, police said, contributing to the casualties. Emergency workers were deployed to inspect damaged areas and assist those injured in the chaos.
Witnesses told Reuters that crowds formed immediately after the tremors, with many residents choosing to remain outside long after the shaking stopped. The fear of aftershocks kept families away from buildings that might have been weakened by the quake. Local hospitals reported receiving multiple injured residents, though most were treated for minor injuries sustained during the rush to evacuate.
The earthquake was also felt across parts of eastern India, particularly in states bordering Bangladesh. Authorities there said the tremors were noticeable in several districts, though there were no immediate reports of destruction or casualties. Indian officials said they were monitoring the situation but indicated that no emergency measures had been required so far.
Bangladesh sits in a seismically active zone, where the meeting of several tectonic plates has long made the region vulnerable to earthquakes. Urban centres such as Dhaka, with high population density and rapid construction, face heightened risk from moderate quakes, prompting frequent calls from engineers and safety advocates for stronger building codes. Their recommendations often incorporate guidelines intended to reduce the risk of structural collapse in future seismic events.
As rescue teams surveyed the affected areas in Narsingdi and Dhaka, officials cautioned that the number of injured could rise as reports continued to come in from outlying districts. For many residents, the quake served as a stark reminder of the region’s vulnerability, leaving communities shaken even after the ground stopped moving.
