Repeated tremors in same area signal risk of major earthquake: BUET Professor Mehedi

Professor Dr. Mehedi Ahmed Ansari of the Civil Engineering Department at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has warned that repeated earthquakes in the same location could be a precursor to a much larger seismic event.

Speaking to Daily Samakal on Saturday night, Prof. Mehedi said, “There is no way to predict earthquakes with certainty, but when tremors keep occurring repeatedly in the same area, it is a matter of serious concern. It often indicates that stress is building up along a fault and a bigger earthquake may follow. We need to closely monitor the situation for the next four to five days to better understand the pattern.”

In the last 48 hours, the greater Dhaka-Narsingdi region has experienced three notable earthquakes:

Friday morning: A 5.7-magnitude quake with its epicenter in Madhabdi Upazila, Narsingdi (13 km east of Dhaka). The tremor claimed the lives of ten people, including two children.

Saturday 10:36 am: A 3.3-magnitude aftershock centered in Palash Upazila, Narsingdi.

Saturday 6:06 pm: Another tremor felt strongly in Dhaka; the Bangladesh Meteorological Department recorded it as 3.7 magnitude with epicenter in Badda, Dhaka, while the U.S. Geological Survey reported 4.3 magnitude, located 11 km west of Narsingdi and only 10 km deep.

Prof. Mehedi emphasised, “All three recent quakes have occurred in the Narsingdi area or very close to it. When seismic activity clusters and repeats in the same zone within a short period, the risk of a stronger earthquake increases significantly.”

He urged the public to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines while authorities continue monitoring the situation closely.