A POWERFUL earthquake jolted Bangladesh on Friday morning, claiming at least three lives and leaving many injured as tremors shook areas near the densely populated capital, Dhaka.
AFP reported the 5.5-magnitude quake struck at 10:38 am local time near the city of Narsingdi, approximately 33 kilometres from Dhaka, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The tremor, which lasted 26 seconds, sent waves of panic through the Muslim-majority nation of 170 million people, many of whom were at home on their weekly day off.
Among the casualties was a medical student, according to Bangladesh’s health authorities.
Eyewitness Sakib Hossain, 50, described how debris from an eight-storey building in Dhaka fell onto a busy road. "Many people had gathered at the butcher when the rubble fell. I saw vans carrying injured people," he said.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department recorded the epicentre in Madhabdi district, Narsingdi, with a magnitude of 5.7.
The USGS issued warnings of potentially "significant casualties" and widespread damage. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus, the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate appointed after the mass uprising that ousted the government in August 2024, reassured citizens that emergency services were responding swiftly.
"The government is taking all necessary measures, giving the utmost importance to the safety of the people," he said.
Yunus confirmed that all relevant departments had been mobilised to assess damages and respond to affected areas.
Tremors were felt as far away as Kolkata, India, over 325 kilometres from the epicentre, prompting people to evacuate offices and homes. "I felt tremors and my bed moved… I rushed out of my room," said 66-year-old Sumit Dutta. No injuries or major damage were reported in India.
Authorities in Bangladesh continue to monitor the situation closely as rescue operations proceed, with a focus on ensuring the safety of residents and assessing structural damage in the capital and surrounding districts. - November 21, 2025
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