Inoperative for four years

The only seismograph in the country's southern part at Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) has remained inoperative for four years due to lack of a sensor.

The university authority installed it on the campus on May 27 in 2008 under a project of Tk one crore funded by Dhaka University, said Asst Prof of PSTU Md Munibur Rahman, supervisor of the seismograph.

"After installation, we got reading for two earthquakes but a glitch was found in the machine in January 2011," he said.

Later, the machine was restarted with the internet connection at a room in the academic building, Munibur said, adding that after a year, the sensor of the machine became inactive.

"As we can easily get signal of earthquake by monitoring the seismograph and can inform it to locals, it is possible to reduce damage of lives and properties in the disaster, but everything goes in vain as the machine remained inoperative for long," he added.

Md Jamal Hossain, associate professor of computer science and information technology department of PSTU, said seismograph works in three levels -- its sensor detects the tremor first, then receiver receives it and finally computer reads out its level and distance.

If any part of the machine becomes inactive, it will become inoperative as a whole, he said.

"We are trying our best to restart the machine considering its importance," said AKM Mostafa Zaman, dean of disaster management department of PSTU.