Historically, building codes in the country have downplayed the importance of earthquake-proofing buildings.
With more and more people living in urban areas and Dhaka being named among the 20 cities in the world most susceptible to earthquakes, it is high time for the government to require improvements in our building practices.
Seismic activity can be expected to remain the same as in the past. But as our urban areas become more and more densely populated, the consequences of any major earthquake become potentially far more serious.
Unless more is done to improve construction standards and raise safety awareness, earthquakes pose a huge threat to human life in the country. The disasters that our country has been faced with over the last few years have painted a grim picture of the government’s rescue preparedness.
We cannot afford to take the risk to life and our economy in not coming more earthquake-ready. Awareness needs to be raised among the public, and rescue services need to become better prepared.
The safety standards of buildings and major constructions need to be re-evaluated to appropriate standards. Builders, property developers and government should work together to continually improve the country’s ability to withstand and recover from any natural catastrophes.
Improving our emergency response capability and making the country more resilient to earthquakes should be a higher priority. There is plenty of expertise and knowledge available on this issue from other countries such as Japan. We need to incorporate this into our own strategy and building practices.
