Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka experienced two back-to-back earthquakes on Saturday (22), occurring just one second apart, a day after a powerful 5.7-magnitude quake jolted the country.

Confirming the matter to The Business Standard, meteorologist at the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) Tariful Newaz Kabir said: “Two earthquakes struck this evening at almost the same time. One had its epicentre in Dhaka’s Badda, and the other in Narsingdi. The first tremor, measuring 3.7 (minor) on the Richter scale, occurred in Dhaka’s Badda at 6.06.04 p.m., and the second one hit Narsingdi at 6.06.05 p.m. with a magnitude of 4.3 (light).”

Meanwhile, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude of 4.3 quake with the epicentre 11 km west of Narsingdi and the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) measured the magnitude at 3.7. Earlier on Saturday, a minor earthquake of magnitude 3.3 shook the Palash upazila of Narsingdi at 10.36 a.m. The epicentre of Friday’s (21) quake was also in Narsingdi. On Friday at 10.38 a.m., a powerful 5.7-magnitude earthquake jolted Bangladesh, damaging multiple buildings in Dhaka and other districts, killing at least 10 people including a newborn and injuring hundreds.

Bangladesh sits on the collision zone of major tectonic plates, crossed by several active fault lines, placing the country at high seismic risk. The region has a long history of powerful earthquakes, five major quakes between 1869 and 1930 measured above 7.0 on the Richter scale. Experts say the absence of strong earthquakes in recent decades should not be taken as reassurance, warning that this quiet period could be a precursor to a major event. Seismic activity has increased in recent years. Of the 60 earthquakes detected since 2024, three had magnitudes above 4.0 and 31 ranged between 3.0 and 4.0. With rapid urbanisation and weak building standards, the country remains dangerously exposed. Dhaka is considered one of the world’s 20 most earthquake-vulnerable cities.

(The Business Standard)