5.2 Quake Jolts Bangladesh

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake jolted the country, sending panic across the capital on the morning of 21 November. At 10:38 AM, Google Alerts began ringing on smartphones with warning notifications.

According to Google Alerts, the epicenter of the quake was in Ghorashal, near Dhaka. The tremor was felt in the capital for 15–20 seconds, between 10:38 and 10:39 AM.

High-rise buildings swayed during the tremor, triggering widespread fear. However, mobile networks and internet connectivity remained stable. As soon as the first jolt stopped, people began contacting their families and friends through calls and apps to check on their safety. Fire Service officials reported no immediate information on casualties or damage.

Meanwhile, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) stated that the earthquake measured 5.5 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter 14 kilometers west-southwest of Narsingdi. The Android Earthquake Alert System, however, reported that the quake measured 5.2 and had its epicenter close to Dhaka.

Students of Dhaka University rushed out of the halls in panic after the tremor. On what was a relaxed holiday morning, residents hurried down staircases from various buildings. The sudden jolt sent people across the city reaching for their phones to check on loved ones across the country.

Reports from locals indicated that several buildings in Dhaka had tilted, while cracks appeared in buildings in Mirpur’s Dewan Para and one in Khilkhet. The tremor even halted the ongoing Ireland–Bangladesh match at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium for three minutes. When play resumed, spinner Taijul Islam picked up two wickets in three balls—dismissing Dwayne (46) with the first ball and McBrine with the third.

DBTech/IH/OR