Imagine a bustling city suddenly brought to its knees by the raw power of nature. That’s exactly what happened in Bangladesh on November 21, 2025, when a 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook the nation, leaving at least 10 dead and over a hundred injured. But here’s where it gets even more alarming: experts have long warned that Bangladesh sits on a ticking tectonic time bomb, and this recent quake might just be a prelude to something far more devastating. Could this be a wake-up call for a country ill-prepared for the Big One?
The earthquake, which struck at 10:38 a.m. local time, had its epicenter in Narsingdi, just 13 kilometers east of Dhaka’s Agargaon area, and originated 10 kilometers beneath the surface. The tremor didn’t just rattle nerves—it toppled buildings, sparked fires, and sent residents into a panic. In Dhaka alone, four lives were lost, including a medical student who was shopping with his critically injured mother. The tragedy didn’t spare the young; an eight-year-old boy was among the victims, and his father later succumbed to injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. A 50-year-old security guard was crushed by a collapsing wall, a grim reminder of the vulnerability of the city’s infrastructure.
Narsingdi, the quake’s epicenter, bore the brunt with five fatalities, including a baby whose mother was severely injured when a wall fell on them. In suburban Narayanganj, one life was lost, while in Old Dhaka’s Sutrapur area, an eight-storey building precariously leaned against another, and in Kalabagan, a seven-storey structure appeared tilted, though officials deemed it structurally sound. Fires erupted in Dhaka’s upscale Baridhara area and in Munshiganj’s Gazaria, adding to the chaos. Minor cracks were reported in buildings across the capital and surrounding regions, including Narsingdi, Rajshahi, and Chattogram.
But here’s the part most people miss: Bangladesh’s location on active tectonic plate boundaries makes it a prime candidate for major earthquakes. Professor Mehedi Ahmed Ansary of BUET warns that a magnitude 6 quake could collapse most structures in the country. This recent tremor, he says, is a stark ‘alarm bell’ for the nation. Meteorology officials echoed this concern, noting that such a powerful quake so close to Dhaka is unprecedented. Had it lasted just 5-7 seconds longer, the devastation could have been catastrophic.
And this is where it gets controversial: Are Bangladesh’s cities prepared for the inevitable Big One? With aging infrastructure and rapid urbanization, the country’s resilience to natural disasters is being tested like never before. While experts agree a major earthquake is unavoidable, the question remains: How many more lives will be lost before we take proactive measures? What do you think? Is Bangladesh doing enough to prepare for the next big quake, or are we ignoring the warning signs? Let’s discuss in the comments.