Two Mild Quakes Jolt Dhaka; Epicentres Traced to Badda

Two mild earthquakes shook Dhaka on Saturday evening, causing panic among residents just a day after a powerful nationwide tremor left several people dead and hundreds injured. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department confirmed that both of Saturday’s quakes had their epicentres in the capital’s Badda area.

Meteorologist Tariful Newaz Kabir said the twin quakes occurred almost simultaneously. The first tremor, measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale, struck at 6:06:04pm. Just one second later, at 6:06:05pm, a second, stronger tremor measuring 4.3 followed. Both originated from a shallow depth beneath Badda, making them more sharply felt despite their relatively low magnitudes.

Residents in Badda, Rampura, Gulshan, Khilgaon, and nearby neighbourhoods reported feeling a sudden jolt followed by light shaking, prompting many to momentarily rush outdoors. No major damage or casualties were reported from Saturday’s quakes, but the incidents heightened anxiety across the capital.

Earlier in the morning, a separate 3.3-magnitude earthquake struck Narsingdi’s Palash upazila at 10:36am. Though mild, the tremor was felt in surrounding areas.

The country is still reeling from Friday morning’s stronger quake, which jolted the entire nation at 10:38am. The sudden shaking caused widespread panic, forcing thousands of people to flee buildings. At least ten people—including several children—lost their lives, mostly due to fear-driven falls from buildings. More than six hundred others suffered injuries.

Narsingdi recorded the highest number of fatalities with five deaths. Four people died in Dhaka and one in Narayanganj. Several buildings across the capital and nearby districts tilted or developed visible cracks, prompting concerns about structural safety.

Experts have urged authorities to conduct rapid assessments of vulnerable buildings, particularly in older parts of Dhaka, and to boost public awareness on earthquake preparedness. They also warned that aftershocks may continue in the coming days.