As the tectonic plate boundary lies close to Sylhet, the region is at high risk of devastating earthquakes.
“In addition, the Dauki fault, Sylhet fault, and Tripura fault further increase the risk of earthquake,” said Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST).
According to him, any big tremor inside or outside the Dauki fault could cause extensive damage in Sylhet.
A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Dhaka and parts of Bangladesh on Friday. At least 10 people were killed and more than 500 injured in the quake. The epicenter was in Madhabdi of Narsingdi, about 30 kilometres from the earthquake observation centre in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Dr. Mushtaq said that the people in Sylhet are worried about floods, but rarely about earthquakes—even though the Dauki fault lies very close to this region. “Whenever an earthquake occurs, people discuss the issue for a few days, then forget,” he said. Earthquake preparedness should be a “regular agenda” for Sylhet.
He also stressed the need for forming a pressure group that will monitor everything—from new building designs to proper construction practices. To reduce earthquake risks, he recommended third-party vetting of all new building designs. He noted that the Comilla City Corporation has already introduced such vetting procedures, and similar steps are needed for Sylhet City Corporation (SCC).
SCC may face a shortage of staff to check structural designs, he said, adding that third-party vetting could solve this problem, with the city corporation setting the required fees. “It won’t cost SCC extra money, and the designated party will receive a certificate,” he said. He has expressed concern that a major quake could strike at any time along the Dauki fault.
Dr. Mushtaq said that strict measures must be taken to construct new buildings. People must be made aware that without adequate open space around buildings, rescue operations during earthquakes become extremely difficult—they need to be motivated to follow the rules.
A magnitude-6 quake may cause massive destruction
Dr. Zahir Bin Alam, a teacher of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at SUST, has emphasised the importance of following the building code to reduce earthquake risks. He warned that a magnitude-6 earthquake beneath Sylhet could cause extensive damage, and urged the city corporation to be vigilant. To mitigate earthquake impacts, he recommended creating a database of all buildings in Sylhet, preparing evacuation maps, training adequate volunteers, and identifying vulnerable buildings.
According to him, SCC in 2021 identified several risky buildings—two of which were demolished—but there has been no update on the others. While many new buildings follow the building code, he said the concern lies with older structures that were built long ago. “Everyone needs to remain alert,” he added.
Referring to the major earthquake in Turkey a few years ago, he noted that it destroyed almost all old buildings.
Survey of risky buildings remains stalled
When asked about third-party vetting, an engineer said that new buildings are constructed in Sylhet as per the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) and the Bangladesh Building Construction Rules 1996. Applications for new buildings must be signed by SCC-listed engineers or engineering firms, who certify that the structures are “earthquake resistant.”
According to the survey conducted by the SSC, there are currently 27 risky buildings in the city. Among them, SUST engineers conducted the survey on nine buildings and identified them as risky. These buildings are privately owned, and owners have been asked to fund detailed structural assessments, but they have not agreed. As a result, progress is stalled, sources said.
Professor Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed, who was involved in the survey, said that preliminary assessments were done on a few buildings, and some require retrofitting to increase structural capacity. He stressed the need for a detailed assessment of each component of these buildings.
Ali Akbar, acting chief engineer of SCC, said they have made a list of risky buildings. The disaster management committee will hold a meeting on Monday to decide the next course of action, he added.
