The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

A series of mild tremors jolted the capital Dhaka and its adjoining areas just before the Iftar yesterday evening, forcing hundreds of people running out of their houses in panic.

However, there were no immediate reports of significant damage, death or casualty in any parts of the country, officials said.

The epicenter of the quakes was 76.1 kilometer of the east of Brahmanbaria district.

The tremors caused panic and fear among the people when some of the structures cracked and swayed. At that time, people were taking preparations to break their fasting. In many areas of the city, panic-stricken residents rushed out of their houses, flats and apartments when the quakes began and stayed on the roads until the quakes stopped. Officials said in some areas several buildings developed cracks.

A Meterological Department official confirmed the occurrence of the tremors that shook the capital and adjoining areas ahead of the Iftar. But he could not give detail information.

Prof Syed Humayun Aktar, of the Department of Geology of Dhaka University, said: "Three mild tremors were felt, around 5.20pm, 5.50pm and 6:00pm." The quake lasted for about 10-15 seconds.

"More can be said after we examine the geological data," said Aktar, who is director of the department's earth observatory. Bangladesh Meteorological Department officer, Abdul

Mannan confirmed that the tremors had hit Dhaka and adjoining areas.

He added that the Met Office had received many calls from the public, but they could not give any further information yet.

Quakes have affected the country many times in recent years but most have caused no loss of life or damage.

According to experts, Bangladesh is considered high risk for earthquakes due to its geographic location.

A roundtable on March 31 last organised by the Network for Information Response and Preparedness Activities on Disaster (NIRAPAD), a non-governmental organization, in association with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and CARE Bangladesh- concluded that the loss of lives and property could be reduced significantly if the government took proper preparedness and mitigation measures.

"Unplanned urbanisation, overpopulation, poorly constructed structures, lack of coordination between institutions concerned, inadequacy of recovery tools and lack of awareness among the people place the country at high risk," said A.S.M. Maksud Kamal, an expert on earthquake and tsunami preparedness at the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) within the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management.

Syed Humayun Akhtar, a geology professor at Dhaka University, agreed that the mild quakes of recent times could signal that a major one was brewing.

Experts cite a clear lack of direction in the government's earthquake preparedness efforts.

A study by the Bangladesh Earthquake Society warned that a major earthquake could destroy 28 percent of buildings and structures in Dhaka alone.