7.3-magnitude tremor originated in Myanmar; creates panic in Bangkok

This is not the first earthquake in January

Although extremely unpredictable, earthquakes are a reality we must be prepared for.

At least 34 mild quakes in and around Bangladesh within the last two months is a worrying sign, experts said.

The earthquake was felt at 12:49pm, an official of Bangladesh Meteorological Department told The Daily Star

How prepared are we?

Two earthquakes with epicentres very close to Dhaka jolted the capital in a span of just 11 days, raising concerns among leading experts about more quakes and the country’s preparedness.

Residents of Dhaka, Chattogram and some other cities around the country reported feeling an earthquake this morning.

Among the list of inevitable incidents, natural disaster holds the top list. That being said, Dhaka, one of the world's most densely populated cities, has been ranked in the top 20 cities most vulnerable to earthquakes. In addition to the current level of unplanned urbanisation along with the non-adherence to the National Building Code, Dhaka is a ticking bomb in the wake of an earthquake. In times like these, as responsible individuals, it is our responsibility to know what to do before, during and after these disasters.

If there is anything that some of the most major fires have pointed out, it is that very few buildings in the capital are built following the National Building Code.