An earthquake measuring 3.6 magnitude was felt in Dhaka and several regions across the country. No immediate reports of damage or casualties were received.
The tremor was felt at 4:15:47 PM on Thursday, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).
Volcano Discovery reported that the epicenter was located 31 kilometers northeast of Dhaka, with a magnitude of 3.6.
According to the Meteorological Department, the earthquake’s magnitude on the Richter scale was 3.6—classified as a mild earthquake. The epicenter was identified in Ghorashal of Narsingdi.
Three Earthquakes in 13 Hours
From early Thursday morning until the afternoon, Bangladesh experienced three earthquakes within a span of about 13 hours. All were mild to moderate.
The first earthquake struck just after midnight at 3:29 AM, with a magnitude of 4.0. Its epicenter was located 118 kilometers from Teknaf in the Bay of Bengal. The tremor was felt in Teknaf town of Cox’s Bazar.
A second mild earthquake occurred at 3:30:49 AM in Sylhet, measuring 3.4 magnitude. Many residents did not notice it due to its low intensity.
The third and latest quake was felt at 4:15 PM in Dhaka with a magnitude of 3.6.
Can Earthquakes Be Predicted?
A wave of panic and rumors has spread in Bangladesh—similar to what happened in India and Pakistan in 2023 after a devastating earthquake struck the Turkey–Syria border, killing nearly 60,000 people.
Following that disaster, rumors claimed that India and Pakistan would face a major quake within 15 days.
Experts at the time firmly stated that earthquakes cannot be predicted. No scientist in history has been able to forecast the exact time, location, and magnitude of an earthquake.
Professor Michael Bruno, a seismic engineering expert at the University at Buffalo, USA, said, “At this moment, there is no science, magic, or supernatural method that can predict the exact timing of an earthquake. Scientists do not have the ability to give precise forecasts.”
He added that scientists have tried every method to predict earthquakes, but none have succeeded or been scientifically reliable.
Professor Egil Hauksson, a geophysics researcher at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), said, “It has not been possible to determine the exact timing of an earthquake.”
