Repeated tremors near Dhaka are aftershocks of 21 Nov quake: Met Office
The series of earthquakes felt in and around Dhaka over the past two weeks — including Thursday morning’s 4.1-magnitude jolt — are aftershocks of the major 5.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on 21 November, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department has confirmed.
Rubaiyat Kabir, Officer-in-Charge of BMD’s Earthquake Observatory Centre, told The Daily Campus on Thursday (4 December):
“After a relatively large earthquake, numerous smaller tremors usually follow. Everything we have recorded so far in the Dhaka-Narsingdi area since 21 November falls under the category of aftershocks.”
Timeline of recent quakes (all epicentres in/near Narsingdi)
| Date & Time | Magnitude | Epicentre | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov, 10:38 am | 5.7 | Madhabdi, Narsingdi | Strongest in Bangladesh in 30 years |
| 22 Nov, 10:36 am | 3.3 | Palash, Narsingdi | |
| 22 Nov, 6:04 pm | 4.3 | 11 km west of Narsingdi | |
| 22 Nov, 6:06 pm | ~3.5 | Narsingdi | |
| 27 Nov, 4:15 pm | 3.6 | Ghorashal, Narsingdi | |
| 4 Dec, 6:14:45 am | 4.1 | Shibpur, Narsingdi | Felt strongly in Dhaka |
Experts say these repeated shaking from the same fault zone (Madhabdi Fault near Narsingdi, only 25–40 km from Dhaka) is normal after a significant event, but it also serves as a grim reminder that Bangladesh lies in a highly active seismic zone.
Two major seismic threats looming over Bangladesh
- Dauki Fault – ~350 km long, runs from Mymensingh-Jamalganj-Sylhet beneath the Shillong Plateau. Capable of producing magnitude 8+ earthquakes.
- Chittagong–Teknaf–Myanmar Megathrust – extends from Sylhet through Chattogram to Sumatra; considered extremely dangerous by seismologists.
Dhaka’s highest-risk zones (according to surveys)
A comprehensive risk assessment covering 32 areas found southern Dhaka most vulnerable due to weak structures and narrow roads that would hamper rescue operations.
Highest-risk areas: Sabujbag, Kamrangirchar, Hazaribagh, Kafrul, Ibrahimapur, Kallayanpur, Gabtoli, Uttara, Sutrapur, Shyampur, Manikdi, Mohammadpur, Pallabi, Khilgaon, Badda.
Even parts of northern Dhaka (Mirpur, Pallabi, Kafrul, Kallayanpur) fall under high-risk category.
Seismologists have long warned that a major earthquake centred near Dhaka could cause catastrophic damage because of the city’s soft soil, unplanned high-rises, and dense population.
Authorities and experts continue to urge immediate steps for earthquake preparedness and stricter enforcement of building codes across the capital.
