Experts warn of extreme earthquake risk

Bangladesh faces an alarming level of earthquake risk due to its location atop three active tectonic fault lines, earthquake specialists warned on Saturday.
They cautioned that without immediate, coordinated action, the country could face a large-scale humanitarian disaster.
Their concerns were raised at a seminar titled "Earthquake Awareness, Safety Protocol and Emergency Preparedness", held at a city hotel and organised by JCX Developments Limited.
Local and foreign experts, including engineers, architects, policymakers and private sector representatives, took part in the discussions.
Speakers noted that Bangladesh sits at the junction of the Indian, Myanmar and Eurasian tectonic plates, with three major active faults posing serious threats: the Dauki Fault in the Sylhet region, the Chittagong-Arakan Fault along the Chattogram-Teknaf belt and the Sagaing Fault in Myanmar.
They said rapid, unplanned urbanisation, widespread violations of building codes, narrow access roads and high population density have emerged as key vulnerabilities that could magnify destruction in the event of a major quake.
Participants also cited research findings, including a 2016 Columbia University study warning of a potential magnitude-9 earthquake from a megathrust fault stretching from Sylhet to Teknaf, where tectonic energy has remained largely unreleased for nearly a thousand years.
More than 200 earthquakes have been recorded in Bangladesh over the past century, with noticeable increases since 2024, they noted.

The experts emphasised that although the risks are severe, large-scale losses can still be prevented through coordinated planning, strict enforcement and heightened public awareness.
Their recommendations included: construction of earthquake-resistant buildings, mandatory structural audits for ageing structures, enhanced rescue and emergency-response training, early-warning system development, nationwide simulation drills and community-based training programmes.
Two Japanese experts - Keichiro Sako and Heisei Sugiyama - presented earthquake-resilient construction models based on Japan's experience.
They stressed the importance of compliance with building codes, structural audits, sustainable design and the use of modern shock-absorbing technologies.
They noted that loss and damage from major earthquakes can be significantly reduced through early preparedness, technology-based monitoring and sustained public awareness.
JCX Developments Limited Managing Director Md Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury said recent tremors in Dhaka should be treated as a warning.
"With weak structures, high population density and unplanned development, a strong earthquake could turn catastrophic. The state, housing sector and citizens must work together to build resilience," he said.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com