'No way to survive even if we run': Old Dhaka residents gripped by fear amid back-to-back quakes

Residents of Old Dhaka and Bangshal have spent a sleepless night since yesterday's 5.7-magnitude earthquake, fearing the condition of the area's old and vulnerable buildings.

Many say they no longer feel safe inside their homes — or even outside — because of the densely packed structures that leave little room to escape during tremors.

Old Dhaka's Bangshal resident and homemaker Sayema Begum today (22 November) told The Business Standard, "When the earthquake hit, we ran outside with our children. Our bodies were shaking."

"Now all the buildings here are attached to each other; there is no safe space. Even if we run downstairs, there is no way to survive," said Sayema, echoing the voice of many other residents living in the area.

"If a strong quake hits, there will be bodies everywhere. Nobody knows what will happen. We are only praying," she added.

Another resident from Old Dhaka, Zohir, said that he has seen posts on social media that another quake could hit, which he said intensified people's panic.

3 pedestrians crushed to death as building railing collapses in Old Dhaka during morning quake

"I saw posts on Facebook saying another earthquake could hit. We are extremely worried. Yesterday, a person died after a railing collapsed — who knows if we'll survive the night? I keep thinking whether it's safe to remain here. My family and children are constantly on my mind."

These worries expressed by Old Dhaka residents Sayema and Zohir might have eased, but tension escalated further today when Dhaka experienced two back-to-back earthquakes just one second apart.

Tariful Newaz Kabir, meteorologist at the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), said, "Two earthquakes struck this evening at almost the same time."

"One had its epicentre in Dhaka's Badda, and the other in Narsingdi. The first tremor, measuring 3.7 [minor] on the Richter scale, occurred in Dhaka's Badda at 6:06:04pm, and the second one hit Narsingdi at 6:06:05pm with a magnitude of 4.3 [light]."

"Now we are even more scared — what if another quake strikes?" said Arafat, a businessman from Old Dhaka's Chawkbazar area.

Yesterday's quake already left the neighbourhood terrified, he added.

"The buildings here are all old and can collapse at any moment. Nobody knows what will happen," Arafat echoed the same as Sayema.

At least 10 people, including a newborn, were killed and hundreds of individuals were injured after a powerful 5.7-magnitude earthquake jolted Bangladesh yesterday, damaging multiple buildings in Dhaka and other districts, according to officials.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said the quake struck at 10:38am, with its epicentre located in Madhabdi, Narsingdi, about 13km east of the seismic centre in Dhaka's Agargaon.

2 back-to-back quakes jolt Dhaka this evening; four tremors recorded in 32hrs

The Madhupur fault is the most earthquake-prone seismic zone in Bangladesh, located within the Madhupur Garh region. It is one of the country's most active faults.

Stretching approximately 100km, it affects parts of Tangail, Gazipur and Dhaka.

According to a 2024 study by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), if a 6.9-magnitude earthquake were to strike the Madhupur fault in Tangail, between 864,619 and 1,391,685 buildings in Dhaka would collapse or suffer major structural failure, accounting for 40.28% to 64.83% of all buildings in the capital.

Additionally, if a 7.1-magnitude earthquake were to occur along the Sylhet lineament, between 40,935 and 314,742 buildings in Dhaka would be damaged, representing 1.91% to 14.66% of the total number of buildings.

For residents of the entire capital, the fear is immediate.

"We are just praying nothing worse happens," Sayema said.