Earthquake Risk and Reduction Approaches in Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh is a disaster prone country. Though cyclone, flood, landslides, river erosion as well as climate induced hazards are the frequent disastrous phenomena in the country, in the last 150 years, the country experienced damages of five earthquakes having magnitude over 7.0 (Richter Scale). There are subduction zones in the east and north of the country while three major active faults have been studied so far having potential to generate 7.0–8.5 magnitude earthquake. Geophysical and paleoseismic investigations also conducted to estimate the slip-rate as well as recurrence period of the historical earthquakes. Considering the potential risks, the Government has taken initiatives through Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) to assess the seismic risk following the deterministic and probabilistic procedures mainly to address the scenario based earthquake risk management in the country. Following the estimated scenarios, spatial emergency risk management plan in the name of contingency plan developed for the main cities, viz., Dhaka. Chittagong and Sylhet as well as other ten major responding agencies. Numbers of simulation exercises were conducted to implement the contingency plan. In order to rightly address the earthquake risk reduction, government has taken number of initiatives onwards 2006 under the umbrella of CDMP. These are development of 62,000 Urban Community Volunteer mainly in the earthquake prone cities, training for masons and bar binders as well as engineers, preparation of risk sensitive landuse planning, building awareness to the public representatives and city dwellers, increasing the research activities in the government agencies and academic institutions as well as gradual procurement of search and rescue equipments. It can be said that a comprehensive approach has been launched for earthquake risk management in Bangladesh, which need to be nourished by all relevant quarters to develop a sustainable urban risk management environment in the country.