"Two-thirds of Dhaka residents could die if a 7.5-magnitude earthquake strikes"

Disaster experts have warned that if a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake hits Dhaka, more than one million buildings could collapse and nearly two-thirds of the city’s population could die.

The warning was issued at a seminar titled “Measures to protect life and property from earthquakes” held on Wednesday morning, January 14, 2026, at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity. The event was jointly organised by the Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh ADAB and the Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies CAPS.

The seminar was chaired by ADAB Chairperson Anwar Hossain and moderated by ADAB Director AKM Jasim Uddin. CAPS President Professor Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder presented the keynote paper, saying Bangladesh is located in an earthquake-prone zone and a major quake is inevitable.

Former Fire Service and Civil Defence Director operations Major retired Shakil Newaz said that a major earthquake would sever gas, water and electricity lines, collapse communication systems and sharply increase fire risks. Rescue operations would be severely hampered, and even hospitals would be unsafe.

Speakers stressed that unplanned urbanisation, violation of building codes, high population density, construction on soft soil, falling groundwater levels, lack of emergency exits and corruption would amplify the devastation. They called for identifying risky buildings, strict enforcement of building codes, strengthening rescue services, creating community volunteers and expanding earthquake awareness programmes nationwide.