§  Bangladesh Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 10

§  Bangladesh earthquake kills 10, including children, after 5.7-magnitude quake hits Narsingdi near Dhaka.

§  Over 600 injured as buildings collapse. Tremors felt across Kolkata, West Bengal. Live updates, casualties, aftershocks & safety guide.

Dhaka, November 22, 2025: A devastating 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh’s Narsingdi district near Dhaka on Friday morning, November 21, 2025, killing at least 10 people including children and injuring over 600 others across the nation. The shallow-depth quake—originating just 10 kilometers below the surface—triggered widespread panic, building collapses, factory stampedes and fires across Bangladesh’s densely populated capital region. While West Bengal, including Kolkata, experienced strong tremors that sent thousands rushing into streets, no casualties were reported in India. However, across the border in Bangladesh, the death toll continues to rise as rescue operations intensify and aftershocks persist, leaving survivors traumatized and fearing an even greater disaster ahead.

Part 1: The Earthquake Strike - What Happened on November 21

When & Where
At precisely 10:38 AM local time (04:38 GMT) on Friday, November 21, 2025, a powerful earthquake jolted central Bangladesh. The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the magnitude at 5.5, while Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department measured it at 5.7—making it the strongest earthquake to hit Bangladesh in 30 years, according to local experts.

Epicenter Details
The quake’s epicenter was located in Narsingdi district’s Madhabdi area, approximately 13-14 kilometers south-southwest of Narsingdi town and just 25-33 kilometers east of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s densely populated capital of over 10 million people.

Depth & Duration
At a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), the earthquake’s seismic waves traveled quickly to the surface, amplifying the shaking intensity. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department confirmed the tremors lasted for a terrifying 26 seconds—long enough to cause widespread panic and structural damage.

Seismic Impact
According to USGS estimates, over 10 million people in Dhaka and 300,000 people in Narsingdi felt strong to very strong shaking. The shallow depth meant maximum surface impact—buildings swayed violently, makeshift structures collapsed and concrete debris rained down on crowded streets.

Part 2: Rising Death Toll - Children Among the Victims

As rescue operations continue and aftershocks rattle the region, Bangladesh’s death toll has climbed to 10 confirmed fatalities with over 600 injured—a number expected to rise as authorities assess remote areas.

Casualties by District

Heartbreaking Stories of Loss

Dhaka’s Armanitola Tragedy
In the Armanitola neighborhood of Old Dhaka, three people were crushed to death when a brick railing from a five-story building suddenly collapsed during the tremors. The victims—a father and two others, including an 8-year-old child—were shopping at a butcher’s shop on the street below when tonnes of masonry fell on them.

Local resident Mohammed Arif described the horror: “I came out when I heard a loud noise and saw that some bricks had fallen and I saw some people injured also.”

Narayanganj Child Victim
In Narayanganj’s suburban river port town, a newborn baby was killed when a wall collapsed onto the infant and the child’s mother, who was also critically injured.

Factory Stampede in Gazipur
The most significant injury toll occurred in Gazipur district, home to hundreds of garment factories employing thousands of workers. When the earthquake struck, panicked workers rushed toward exits, triggering massive stampedes. At least 252 workers were hospitalized with injuries ranging from broken bones to crush injuries and fainting.

Prothom Alo newspaper reported that workers “tried to rush out of their factories when the quake hit, setting off stampedes that left many hurt.”

Part 3: Widespread Damage Across Bangladesh

Building Collapses & Structural Damage

·       A four-story building completely collapsed in Gazipur

·       Multiple walls and roofs caved in across Dhaka’s densely packed neighborhoods

·       A hospital sustained damage in Gazipur, complicating emergency response

·       Hundreds of buildings developed cracks and tilting, prompting evacuations

Fire Outbreaks
The Fire Service and Civil Defense deployed firefighters to multiple locations, including a fire in Dhaka’s Baridhara neighborhood triggered by the earthquake. Emergency crews also responded to reports of tilting buildings threatening to collapse.

University Chaos
At Dhaka University, students jumped from upper floors of their dormitories in panic with at least 5-10 students injured in the evacuation chaos.

Eyewitness Accounts

Dhaka resident Suman Rahman described the terror: “We felt a strong jolt and buildings were shaking like trees. Staircases were jammed as people rushed down. Everyone was terrified, children were crying.”

Part 4: Tremors Felt Across Kolkata, West Bengal & Northeast India

While Bangladesh bore the brunt of casualties, the earthquake’s seismic waves traveled across international borders, causing strong tremors throughout eastern India—particularly in Kolkata, West Bengal, and Northeast Indian states.

West Bengal Impact

Kolkata: At approximately 10:10 AM IST, residents across Kolkata experienced 30+ seconds of strong shaking. Office buildings swayed, chandeliers and wall hangings shook violently and panicked employees rushed into streets.

75-year-old Alipore resident Ravindra Singh described the experience: “The tremors lasted for more than 30 seconds and were quite strong. Initially, my family said it was my head spinning but later it was found to be true.”

Other Affected Areas in West Bengal

·       Murshidabad district: Tremors felt from Jalanghi to Farakka, Rejinagar to Jangipur

·       Cooch Behar, Dakshin Dinajpur, Uttar Dinajpur: Moderate shaking reported

·       Malda, Nadia, Siliguri: Residents evacuated buildings as precaution

Northeast India
Tremors were also reported in

·       Tripura (Agartala): Strong shaking, no damage reported

·       Assam (Guwahati): Moderate tremors felt

·       Meghalaya (Shillong): Brief shaking reported

No Indian Casualties
Crucially, West Bengal Disaster Management Department and city authorities confirmed no casualties, injuries or major structural damage in India.

Part 5: Social Media Erupts - Viral Videos & Panic Reactions

As soon as tremors hit Kolkata, social media exploded with earthquake confirmation requests, safety queries and viral videos capturing the moment buildings shook.

Trending Reactions on Twitter/X

“That #earthquake lasted over 30 seconds and was very powerful. #Kolkata”

“Oh my god. This is the most terrifying earthquake I have ever felt, literally the whole building shook.”

“Strong Tremors here in Kolkata at 10:10 AM. Praying for everyone’s safety.”

Viral CCTV Footage:
Multiple CCTV cameras across Bangladesh captured the exact moment the earthquake struck

·       Chandeliers swaying violently

·       People running in panic

·       Buildings visibly shaking

·       Debris falling from ceilings

·       Workers scrambling for exits

These videos went viral across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube within hours, garnering millions of views.

Part 6: Why Kolkata Felt Tremors but Escaped Devastation

Expert Analysis

Disaster management expert Gupinath Bhandari explained why Kolkata escaped major damage despite feeling strong tremors

“If this 5.7-magnitude earthquake had occurred in Kolkata, the city’s appearance would be very different. The earthquake’s center was in Bangladesh. The distance isn’t too far, but the seismic wave didn’t travel with full intensity.”

The Ichamati River Buffer Effect

Bhandari highlighted a crucial geographical factor: “Between Bangladesh and West Bengal flows the Ichamati River—a significantly large water body. The seismic wave gradually passed through this water body, and some of it traveled even deeper underground through soil layers. This absorption and dissipation reduced the wave’s intensity by the time it reached Kolkata.”

Why This Matters:
While the distance from Narsingdi to Kolkata (approximately 200-250 km) allowed tremors to reach West Bengal, the Ichamati River acted as a natural seismic dampener, absorbing significant energy from the earthquake waves before they crossed into India.

Part 7: Aftershocks Continue - Residents Fear Bigger Disaster

The nightmare wasn’t over. On Saturday, November 22, a 3.3-magnitude aftershock struck at 10:36 AM (04:36 GMT) with its epicenter in Ashulia, just north of Dhaka.

·       Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s Omar Faruq confirmed: “Another minor jolt was recorded on Saturday. The epicenter of the 3.3-magnitude tremor was in Ashulia, just north of the capital.”

Psychological Impact

·       Resident Shahnaj Parvin expressed the pervasive fear: “I don’t feel safe yet, as there was another jolt this morning in Ashulia. Maybe we are next.”

·       Seismology Fact: Aftershocks are common after major earthquakes, but for Bangladesh—a nation with limited earthquake experience—each aftershock renews trauma and panic.​

Part 8: Is Kolkata Safe? Expert Warnings on Earthquake Risk

While Kolkata escaped this earthquake relatively unscathed, seismologists warn the city is NOT earthquake-safe.

Vulnerability Factors

·       Seismic Zone: Kolkata lies in Seismic Zone III (moderate risk) of India’s seismic zonation map

·       Soft Soil: Much of Kolkata is built on alluvial soil and reclaimed wetlands—poor foundation for earthquake resistance

·       Old Buildings: Thousands of colonial-era and older buildings lack modern earthquake-resistant construction

·       Population Density: Over 14 million people in metro area = catastrophic potential casualties

Expert Warning:

Disaster management specialist Gupinath Bhandari cautioned: “Kolkata is not very safe from earthquakes. If this 5.7-magnitude quake had been centered here, Kolkata’s appearance would be completely different.”

READ MORE: TCS Dark Side Lay Offs Exposed: Employee Forced to Resign During Medical Leave - 14-Year Worker Allegedly Denied Proper Severance

Part 9: Bangladesh’s Earthquake Vulnerability - A Ticking Time Bomb.?

Historical Context

According to earthquake experts, this was the strongest earthquake to hit Bangladesh in 30 years and released energy equivalent to the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Environmental adviser to Bangladesh government Syeda Rizwana Hasan stated: “We have never encountered an earthquake of this magnitude in the past five years.”

Why Bangladesh is Vulnerable

·       Tectonic Location: Bangladesh sits near the boundary of the Indian Plate and Eurasian Plate—a seismically active zone

·       Shallow Faulting: Friday’s earthquake occurred at only 10 km depth, maximizing surface impact

·       Dense Population: Dhaka is one of world’s most densely populated cities—14-20 million people

·       Poor Building Standards: Many structures lack earthquake-resistant design

·       Unprepared Infrastructure: Limited emergency response capabilities

Expert Assessment

Bangladeshi earthquake expert Humayun Akhtar noted this earthquake “was the strongest in the recent history of Bangladesh.”

Part 10: Government Response & Rescue Operations

Immediate Actions

·       Fire Service and Civil Defense deployed across affected districts

·       10+ injured transported to Dhaka Medical College Hospital

·       72 patients admitted to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital

·       53 treated at Sreepur Upazila Health Complex

·       45 hospitalized at Narsingdi District Hospital

·       Emergency hotlines activated

Leadership Response

Bangladesh’s interim government leader Muhammad Yunus acknowledged casualties included “students from Dhaka University, factory employees in Gazipur, and locals from Narsingdi.”

Health advisor Nurjahan Begum confirmed several victims in critical condition: “Several individuals transported to hospitals from Narsingdi were in critical condition.”

Ongoing Monitoring

Disaster management official Ishtiaqe Ahmed stated authorities are “continuing to monitor the situation closely” as the casualty count potentially rises.

Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for Earthquake Preparedness

The November 21 Bangladesh earthquake serves as a stark reminder of South Asia’s seismic vulnerability. While West Bengal escaped with only tremors, Bangladesh paid a devastating price—10 lives lost, over 600 injured and countless families traumatized.

Key Takeaways

·       ✓ Bangladesh experienced its strongest earthquake in 30 years

·       ✓ Shallow 10km depth amplified surface destruction

·       ✓ Children among the dead—highlighting vulnerability of youngest populations

·       ✓ Factory stampedes caused mass injuries—industrial safety concerns

·       ✓ Kolkata felt strong tremors but escaped damage due to distance and geographical buffers

·       ✓ Aftershocks continue, renewing fear and trauma

·       ✓ Both Bangladesh and Kolkata face significant future earthquake risk

The Larger Question: Are Bangladesh and eastern India prepared for an even stronger earthquake.? Experts say no. With aging infrastructure, dense populations and limited emergency response capabilities, the region remains dangerously vulnerable to future seismic events.

Call to Action (CTA)

If you live in earthquake-prone regions

·       ✓ Learn earthquake safety: Drop, Cover, Hold On

·       ✓ Prepare emergency kits: Water, food, first aid, flashlight

·       ✓ Identify safe zones: Away from windows, under sturdy furniture

·       ✓ Secure heavy items: Bookshelves, water heaters, mirrors

·       ✓ Know evacuation routes: Practice with family

For Bangladesh earthquake updates: Follow official Bangladesh Meteorological Department announcements and local disaster management authorities.

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