If it comes...

By Tahsin Hyder Maple Leaf International School Dhanmondi, Dhaka
24 October 2005, 18:00 PM
There is reason to believe that an earthquake will occur in this part of the world in the very near future. Recently, an earthquake struck parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India, killed people in huge numbers, and reduced homes to rubbles. Can we imagine what will happen to us in the event of an earthquake?

We will be like ants trying to dig out people, buried in rubbles, using hands. Children will cry for a drop of water, a piece of bread and a blanket in cold nights. They will look at the sun, which will only give them heat.

According to available reports, multi-storied apartments and commercial establishments are very likely to get destroyed in an earthquake. If that happens, who will survive in these buildings? Children are known as the nation-builders of a society, where will the nation-builders be when the decades old structures of schools will fall down with screaming of the little boys and girls?

What will happen to the old part of the city? Narrow roads, famous local restaurants, houses built and attached together run the risk of being smoothened. Is there anyone in the country who is really concerned about the situation? Is the government doing anything to minimise the losses in the event of an earthquake? Aren't we wasting valuable time?