Tremors shake the nation, but not its conscience

Much has been written, discussed about and warned against the vulnerability of Dhaka to major earthquakes. Yet very little has changed in the way buildings are constructed here. Seismologists, who claim that Bangladesh sits on active fault lines, have long been warning that a strong earthquake could be catastrophic, particularly for the densely populated Dhaka city where unplanned construction has been the norm. These warnings often fall on deaf ears. We, as a nation, do not give due attention to any potential disasters until they strike. Public awareness tends to surge after such incidents but we do not take much time to forget them after an initial hue and cry. The recent 5.7 magnitude earthquake, which claimed at least 10 lives, injured several hundred people, and cracked numerous buildings, shook the nation. Many families, particularly in Dhaka, temporarily left the city and several educational institutions suspended class in fear that a bigger disaster might strike at any moment. The fear is not misplaced as Dhaka with countless faulty high-rises, narrow lanes, and congested neighbourhoods has already become one of the world's most at-risk megacities in terms of earthquake damage. The fear has, however, started to subside and we will not hear anything about it months later.

Why is Dhaka highly vulnerable to earthquakes? One of the reasons is the pervasive disregard for building construction regulations. The Bangladesh National Building Code is in place to ensure structural integrity. But it is rarely followed in practice. Violations have become a norm - from design and approval to construction and inspection. Developers often use inferior materials and compromise on steel reinforcements and foundation designs. Besides, the approved building height is ignored and floors are added without permission. These flaws make buildings too weak to withstand even moderate tremors. Another aspect - the sheer density of structures - heightens their vulnerability.

Seismologists and urban planners warn that if an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 or above strikes near the capital could be devastating. A 2015 BUET study estimated that nearly 78,000 buildings in Dhaka were at high risk due to structural weakness. Around 300,000 more buildings were found to have moderate risk factors.

The situation is not limited to Dhaka. Rural areas, once dominated by corrugated tin and wood-made homes, are now seeing a rapid increase in the construction of multi-storey structures. Concept of structural engineers and soil testing is absent in the construction of such structures in rural areas as well as in small towns.

Corruption, negligence and a lack of awareness play the most significant role in this crisis. The approval of building plans often takes place through unofficial means, bypassing technical scrutiny. Besides, the enforcement of the National Building Code is weak because regulatory bodies lack manpower, resources, and in many cases the will to act. Most homeowners lack awareness of structural vulnerability and assume their buildings are safe as long as they look solid from the outside. They do not know earthquake resistance comes from engineering, not appearance. Bangladesh seriously lacks another important thing - comprehensive retrofitting initiative, which can improve safety, sustainability, and performance of buildings. Despite facing recurring tremors, the country has no such initiative at the national level.

Giving due attention to the risk of earthquakes has been overdue for Bangladesh, which is seeing fast growing urban population, combined with vertical expansion. The country must strictly enforce building codes, conduct structural audits, discourage unauthorised floors, and implement retrofitting initiatives. The capacity and authority of regulators such as the RAJUK should be strengthened so that they can ensure compliance. Public awareness is also essential for a change in the situation.

The recent quake should serve as a wake-up call. If we accept it as a wakeup call and act accordingly, we will be able to minimise the loss of lives and property in any event of a powerful earthquake. Otherwise we may lose everything - property and lives of our own and our dear ones.

rahmasrdk@gmail.com