Suddenly, the things inside my house started shaking. At first, I thought maybe a big car was passing by. But after a while, the walls of the house also started shaking. Then I realized that it was an earthquake. During the earthquake, everything around was shaking. At first, it felt like a monster was shaking the house. Glassware was breaking, furniture was falling, and people were screaming in fear. My mother was praying to Allah. I also quickly left the house.

After a while, when the shaking stopped, the surroundings became calm. But everyone was afraid. Everyone was looking at each other. A lot of people had gathered on the streets, no one dared to enter the houses. After the earthquake, people were terrified, but there was no damage. Everyone was encouraging each other.

An earthquake was felt in various parts of Bangladesh, including the capital Dhaka, on the morning of today, Friday, November 21, 2025. According to initial information, its magnitude was 5.5 or 5.2 on the Richter scale and the epicenter was near Ghorashal in Narsingdi. Between 10:38 am and 10:39 am. Magnitude (initial) 5.5 or 5.2 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the earthquake was near Ghorashal (Narsingdi). During the earthquake, residents of different areas of the capital came out of their homes in panic. The death toll due to the severe earthquake in Narsingdi has increased to 10. Five people have been killed in Narsingdi, the epicenter of the earthquake, while four have been reported in Dhaka and one in Narayanganj. The number of injured so far is 450. This information was given by the Monitoring and Information Management Division of the Disaster Management Department on Friday (November 21) evening.
Throughout history, earthquakes have caused a large number of deaths and widespread destruction.They are among the most devastating natural disasters in human history.Some of the most notable and deadly earthquakes are listed below : The 1556 Shaanxi earthquake (China) — This is the deadliest recorded earthquake in history. An estimated 830,000 people died in the event. Most of the people in the region lived in caves carved into the soft rock, which collapsed during the earthquake. The 1976 Tangshan earthquake (China) — This earthquake killed an estimated 255,000 people, although some estimates put the death toll as high as 655,000. It is one of the deadliest earthquakes in modern history. The 1141 Aleppo earthquake (Syria) — This ancient earthquake killed an estimated 230,000 people. The 2010 Haiti earthquake — This is one of the deadliest disasters in recent history, with an estimated 316,000 deaths. Although the number of deaths in an earthquake is not always directly related to its magnitude, some of the highest magnitude earthquakes are: The 1960 Valdivia earthquake (Chile) — This 9.5 magnitude earthquake is the most powerful earthquake ever recorded by instruments. It killed about 1,655 people and generated a tsunami that affected the entire Pacific Ocean. Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964 (United States) — It was a magnitude 9.2 earthquake and generated a large tsunami. About 128 people died due to the relatively sparsely populated area. 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami (Indonesia): This earthquake, measuring 9.1 to 9.3, generated a massive tsunami in the Indian Ocean, killing about 230,000 people in more than a dozen countries. It is one of the largest humanitarian disasters in modern history. 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami (Japan): The tsunami generated by this magnitude 9.1 earthquake killed about 18,500 people and caused a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

The most devastating earthquake in the history of earthquakes in Bangladesh was the Arakan earthquake of 1762, which had a magnitude of about 8.58 to 8.88.In addition, the 1897 Assam-Meghalaya (near the Bangladesh-Bangladesh border) earthquake (magnitude 8.18) and the 1918 Srimangal earthquake (magnitude 7.67) were also quite devastating.These earthquakes caused widespread loss of life and damage and resulted in land subsidence and tidal waves on the coasts of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar.Notable earthquakes: The Arakan earthquake of 1762 — This is considered the most powerful earthquake in the history of Bangladesh, with a magnitude of about 8.58 to 8.88.It caused land subsidence and tidal waves on the coasts of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar, resulting in widespread destruction.The 1897 Assam–Meghalaya earthquake — had a magnitude of 8.18 and struck nearby Bangladesh, causing a large number of deaths and property damage.The 1918 Srimangal earthquake — was a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.67.Its epicenter was in the Balisera Valley of Srimangal.The 1997 Chittagong earthquake — killed 23 people and injured 200.
Bangladesh is a country prone to earthquakes, and experts believe that a major earthquake of magnitude 8.28 to 9.09 could hit the country in the future.Experts have warned that Bangladesh is not yet fully prepared for major earthquakes, especially due to unplanned urbanization, which is increasing the risk.
There are various religious guidelines for earthquake prevention, such as Islam, which considers earthquakes as a warning from Allah.In response, Muslims should abandon their sinful actions and repent to Allah and seek forgiveness.During this time, emphasis is placed on remembering Allah’s power and remembering Him more. Other religious beliefs also emphasize standing by people in danger during natural disasters, helping each other, and finding peace through spiritual practices.In general, from any religious perspective, compassion and helping hands should be extended to one another.
In this step, a fictional story of devastation has been added to raise awareness of what could happen if a terrible earthquake hits Dhaka: One day, as the dawn broke, a black shadow descended on the sky of Dhaka.First a light tremor, then suddenly a terrible tremor.Before millions of people could wake up, their homes, workplaces, and everything they loved began to turn into ruins in the blink of an eye.Buildings collapsed, old houses collapsed, roads burst.There were only screams and cries all around.Most of the buildings in Dhaka city are not earthquake-resistant.Hundreds of buildings collapsed in a major earthquake.
Ambulances, fire service vehicles and rescue teams could not reach the affected areas due to the collapse of roads in the earthquake.Many people are buried, and their hopes of survival are fading due to the lack of rescue teams.Many injured people have taken shelter in the open air, without food, water and medical facilities.Electricity, gas and water lines have been torn.Mobile and internet connections have been cut off.The city is completely isolated.It is almost impossible to restore the city of Dhaka, which has been reduced to rubble, to its previous state.Due to this devastation, Dhaka city is facing a terrible humanitarian and economic crisis.
It is not possible to completely prevent earthquakes, but the government can take some important steps to reduce damage:
Formulate and enforce strict building codes and regulations for new buildings.Force existing buildings (especially old and vulnerable buildings) to improve their construction techniques.Impose restrictions on the construction of large buildings in earthquake-prone areas.Identify and protect open spaces that can be used as safe shelters during an earthquake.Organize regular publicity and training programs to make people aware of what to do during an earthquake.Provide education on earthquake-resistant behavior in schools, colleges and workplaces.Emergency response systems — Prepare emergency response teams and equipment for rescue and relief operations after an earthquake.Take measures to ensure that electricity, gas and communication systems, such as telephone lines, are not damaged during an earthquake. Develop research and forecasting systems to understand the causes and risk levels of earthquakes.
Today’s earthquake taught us how helpless we are in the face of nature.This experience will help us to be more careful.Earthquake is a natural disaster and it can happen at any time.Therefore, we should always be alert and know how to protect ourselves during an earthquake.

Author: Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain, Essayist, Writer and President of the International Anti-Drug Organization – Freedom International Anti-Alcohol. E-Mail Address: eddanwar@gmail.com