Although Dhaka city has not experienced a major earthquake yet, it is one of the world's 20 cities most vulnerable to earthquakes, says an Earthquake Disaster Risk Index of Stanford University, USA.
It is one of the high risk zones due to fault lines near the capital and the vulnerability of constructions on it to earthquakes, it said.
Dr Jamilur Chowdhury, senior advisor to World Bank's Bangladesh office, presented the index at the inauguration of “The Bangladesh Urban Earthquake Resilience Project”, launched by the World Bank, in the capital's Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel yesterday.
Addressing as the chair, he said the government should conduct more and more realistic assessments on earthquake preparedness.
Disaster Management and Relief Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, however, said the threat of a major earthquake is still “less visible” in Dhaka.
Although Bangladesh is highly exposed to a variety of natural hazards, including floods, cyclones and earthquakes, the government has taken proactive policies to tackle such calamities, he told the event as chief guest.
The project's objectives include developing the equipment of a Dhaka city earthquake resiliency plan, guiding the establishment of a web-based data sharing platform for existing earthquake hazard vulnerability and establishing the strategy for a national education campaign on earthquake awareness and preparedness.