At least six people were killed and dozens more injured after a strong earthquake measuring 5.7 struck central Bangladesh on Friday morning, according to local media. The tremor was felt across large parts of West Bengal and the northeastern states, prompting people to rush out of buildings in fear.
The quake occurred at around 10.38 am (local time), with the epicentre located near Ghorashal in Narsingdi district, approximately 25 km from Dhaka. The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the depth at 10 km.
Early police updates suggested three fatalities, but Dhaka-based DBC Television later confirmed that six people had died in the capital alone. The casualties included three people who lost their lives when sections of a roof and wall collapsed, and three pedestrians struck by falling railings.
Panic spread quickly across Dhaka as buildings shook noticeably. Many residents fled homes, offices, and high-rise complexes, gathering in open areas amid concerns of potential aftershocks. Several people were injured in the chaos, with reports of falls and stampedes during the initial tremor.
While northern and southeastern regions of Bangladesh are historically more susceptible to seismic activity due to the India–Eurasia tectonic plate boundary, Friday’s earthquake hit the relatively less active central belt, the USGS noted.
Tremors were also widely felt in Kolkata, parts of West Bengal, and in Guwahati, Assam, where residents temporarily evacuated buildings as a precaution.
