Powerful earthquake hits Bangladesh: Five dead, 100 injured

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Bangladesh on November 21, claiming at least five lives—including a child—and injuring around 100 people, authorities reported.

Buildings sustained damage in multiple areas, including the capital, Dhaka, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Tremors were also felt in eastern Indian states bordering Bangladesh, though officials reported no significant damage there.

Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, said the injured included students from Dhaka University, factory workers in Gazipur, and residents of Narsingdi, the epicenter of the quake. He did not provide specific details on how the five fatalities occurred.

Police reported that three people died when the railing of a six-story building collapsed. Several injured in Narsingdi, about 40 kilometers east of Dhaka, remained in critical condition, according to health adviser Nurjahan Begum.

In Dhaka, residents rushed out of their homes as buildings shook, and some makeshift structures collapsed. “We felt a strong jolt and buildings were shaking,” said Suman Rahman, a Dhaka resident. “Staircases were jammed as people rushed down. Everyone was terrified. Children were crying.”

The fire department reported injuries caused by falling bricks and loose cement at construction sites. “I have never felt such a tremor in my life. We were at the office when furniture started shaking. We rushed down the stairs and saw other people on the street,” said Sadman Sakib, another resident.

The government is closely monitoring the situation and has instructed relevant departments to intensify rescue and relief operations in the affected areas, Yunus’ office added.

Rescue teams continue to evacuate damaged buildings and provide aid to the injured as authorities assess the extent of the destruction.

By Vafa Guliyeva