Dhaka: Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today urged citizens to remain vigilant about earthquakes and announced efforts to develop an early warning system for such natural disasters. His comments follow a series of recent earthquakes that have raised alarms across Bangladesh.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Home Adviser highlighted the absence of an early earthquake warning system in Bangladesh, unlike many other countries. He noted that several nations have developed apps capable of providing warnings 10 seconds before potential earthquakes, and Bangladesh is considering similar technological advancements. Jahangir emphasized the need for discussions with experts to explore the possibility of developing such systems.
The Home Adviser also stressed the importance of adhering to building codes during construction to mitigate risks. He cautioned that failure to comply with these regulations could result in more severe consequences in the future. Jahangir expressed concern over the practice of constructing buildings on reclaimed waterbodies and urged RAJUK to scrutinize plans before granting approvals.
Regarding the preparedness of the Fire Service and Civil Defence for major earthquakes, Jahangir acknowledged their prompt response to minor incidents. However, he pointed out that the effectiveness of their response to major earthquakes remains uncertain until such events occur.
Bangladesh recently experienced four earthquakes on Friday and Saturday, resulting in at least 10 fatalities, numerous injuries, and several tilted buildings, prompting widespread concern throughout the nation.