Ctg at high risk of earthquake

Chattogram and its adjoining areas are at high risk of earthquake, experts said.

Over six million people now live in an earthquake zone while more than 0.14 million buildings are vulnerable to it, they warned.

The experts also opined that despite having high risk, precautionary measures have not yet been taken by the authority concerned to minimise the possible loss of lives and properties. Even people are not much aware in this regard.

Dr Mohammed Jahangir Alam, former vice-chancellor (VC) of Chattogram University of Science and Technology (CUET) said, "Most buildings in the port city lack quakeproof measures to face any such natural disasters."

"As a result, around 6 million people are now vulnerable to natural disasters like massive earthquake as Chattogram and adjoining areas including Cox's Bazar and three hill districts Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachari are in a quake zone," he added.

More than 0.14 million buildings were also vulnerable to earthquake due to several reasons including violation of building code, use of low-quality materials, and lack of quakeproof measures in the port city. These buildings are likely to be destroyed even by moderate earthquake, he said.

Dr Alam also said many government establishments have not yet taken measures for facing the risk of natural disasters like major earthquake.

These establishments include Chattogram Medical College Hospital, Chattogram General Hospital, Chattogram Port Bhaban, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation office, oil companies including Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Eastern Refinery Limited, Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport, Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) Building, Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Building.

There are 1,080 hospitals in Chattogram. But most of them could be destroyed if an earthquake with a magnitude of around 8 hits Chattogram, he said.

"Even we have no necessary equipment to save the victims after a massive quake."

Sources said greater Chattogram is in an earthquake zone. But there is no 'active' seismic centre in Chattogram to detect earthquake after it occurs, they added.

More than one hundred high-rise and multi-storey buildings in the port city are vulnerable to earthquake. Several thousand people are now living in these buildings. But the authorities concerned are yet to take measures in this regard.

According to the sources, Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) identified a total of 400 buildings as risky. Of them, 60 were identified as high risky for dwellers.

Earlier, CDA knocked down unauthorized establishments and parts of malls or buildings for not keeping parking spaces on underground floors.

The identified risky buildings are mainly located in old parts of Ghat Farhadbegh, Chaktai, Khatunganj, Patharghata, Firingibazar, Korbaniganj, Andarkilla, Chandanpura and Ambagan in the port city.

But the decision taken by the city corporation to demolish 60 risky buildings in the port city is not yet implemented due to lack of proper steps and resistance from building owners.

However, some owners demolished their buildings as per the directives issued by the CCC and CDA. But most of the owners are yet to pay heed to the directives.

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