Tangail, due to its geographical location and tectonic setup, is highly susceptible to earthquakes, as warned by experts.
Among the three major seismic zones in Bangladesh, one lies in Tangail, known as the Madhupur fault, raising concerns about the potential for significant earthquakes in the region and across the country.
Last Sunday, at 12:49 pm, a mild earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale was felt in various parts of Bangladesh, including the capital city.
Tangail meteorological officer reported that the epicenter of this earthquake was in Tangail, citing the Dhaka met office. Its proximity to Dhaka's Agargaon Meteorological Office is merely 59 km to the northwest.
As there is no earthquake measuring device in Tangail, there is no information related to it locally, said Jamal Uddin, in-charge of the local meteorological office.
Despite being an earthquake-prone area, there seems to be little public concern or visible disaster preparedness in Tangail. This is despite several earthquakes occurring in the region in the past, with the Madhupur fault being a particular focal point of concern.
According to a study conducted in 2010 under the Ministry of Disaster Management's initiative, if an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 on the Richter scale occurs on the Madhupur fault, it could lead to the collapse of 72,316 concrete buildings and partial damage to 56,166 buildings.
Another study between 2008 and 2009 suggested that 238,164 buildings in Dhaka city could collapse in the event of an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.5 on the tectonic plate boundary at the Bangladesh border.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake on the Madhupur fault line could cause $1,112million in damage and create as much as 30 million tons of debris.
Khan Mohammad Khaled, president of the Tangail district branch of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), expressed concern over the construction of high-rise buildings in the earthquake-prone area without adequate earthquake resistance measures.
He called for proper checks to ensure compliance with building codes.
He told Dhaka Tribune: “The authorities should check whether these buildings are earthquake resistant or not while passing the plan. Since Tangail is an earthquake-prone area, there is a danger of disaster in case of any major earthquake in the future. Earthquake resistant buildings should be constructed in accordance with building codes.”
Eugene Nokrek, president of the Joyenshahi Adivasi Development Council, also voiced concerns about the potential consequences of a major earthquake in the region, including landslides that could bury communities.
Professor Mir Mozammel Haque of Maulana Bhashani University of Science and Technology, Tangail, emphasized that the Madhupur fault, one of the three main seismic zones in Bangladesh, poses a significant risk.
According to him, Madhupur Garh and Madhupur Bhawal were formed about 2.5 billion years ago. The plates are in movement under the ground. It can collide with one another at any time.
Plate movement has occurred in these areas in the past. As a result, there is a possibility of major earthquakes in Madhupur Garh and Bhawal areas. In 1950, there was an earthquake in Mymensingh region. As a result of which the river Brahmaputra changed its course and formed a new Brahmaputra. Analyzing this aspect, it can be seen that Tangail region falls in the earthquake prone area, said the academician.
He noted that socio-economic changes have led to the construction of multi-story buildings in the district in recent years, increasing the potential for loss of life and property in the event of a major earthquake.
Tangail Fire Service and Civil Defense Senior Station Officer Mohammad Idris Told Dhaka Tribune that their capabilities have increased in rescuing earthquake damage. So far 580 community volunteers have been trained. They have acquired the ability to assist in post-earthquake medical care and rescue operations.
“However, if there is a high magnitude earthquake and the damage is high, there will be disruption in our rescue operations.”
On top of that, high-rise buildings are being built in the district town without following rules and regulations. No one seems to follow the government rules for construction of buildings. As a result, in case of a major earthquake, the amount of damage will be very high, said the fire service official.
In this regard, Deputy Commissioner Kaiser Islam of Tangail, said that there is a committee to supervise the construction of multi-storied buildings. The committee always tries to ensure whether all the rules and regulations are followed by the building owners.
“We are always concerned in this regard,” he added.