Dhaka Quake Kills 3 in Bangshal Railing Collapse
S Arefin 
A shallow earthquake shook Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka on Friday morning, leaving three people dead and highlighting the city’s fragile building safety. The victims were pedestrians crushed when a railing fell from a five-storey building in Old Dhaka’s Bangshal area during the tremor.
Dhaka earthquake: morning shock rattles the capital
The quake struck at around 10:38am local time and was measured at magnitude 5.7 by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Its epicentre was near the capital, only a short distance east of Dhaka’s Agargaon seismic centre, so the shaking was felt strongly despite the moderate magnitude.
Buildings swayed across the city and residents rushed out to the streets in panic. Tremors were also reported in nearby districts, where some homes and small structures suffered cracks and minor damage.
Bangshal railing collapse kills three pedestrians
The deadliest damage occurred in Koshaituli, Bangshal, an old neighbourhood of Dhaka known for its dense, ageing buildings. There, a metal railing from the front of a five-storey structure suddenly detached during the shaking and crashed onto three people walking below.
Two of the pedestrians died at the scene, according to police officers stationed at Bangshal Police Station. A third victim was rushed to Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, where doctors later declared them dead.
Emergency response and hospital treatment
Fire service crews and police quickly cordoned off the site after the collapse. They searched the area to ensure no one else was trapped under the debris and to secure the weakened structure above the footpath.
Elsewhere in Dhaka, several people were injured as they tried to escape buildings in panic, including students who jumped from dormitory roofs and upper floors. Hospitals in the capital treated quake-related injuries ranging from fractures to shock, although most patients were discharged after receiving first aid.
Old Dhaka buildings under fresh safety scrutiny
The tragedy has renewed concern about the condition of many old buildings in the capital, especially in historic areas like Bangshal. Authorities have begun assessing surrounding structures with similar railings and extensions, aiming to identify immediate risks.
Officials say any dangerously weakened buildings may face evacuation orders or urgent repairs. However, urban planners warn that without a broader programme to retrofit ageing properties, similar accidents could occur after future tremors.
Bangladesh’s wider earthquake risk
Bangladesh lies in a seismically active zone where several tectonic plates meet, leaving the country exposed to moderate and strong earthquakes. Experts have long cautioned that high population density and poor construction standards make Dhaka particularly vulnerable.
As a result, Friday’s incident is being seen as another warning for authorities to strengthen enforcement of building codes, improve public awareness and invest in emergency preparedness. For the families of the three pedestrians killed in Bangshal, however, the cost of inaction has already been unbearably high.
Image: Collected
About The Author
Sultanul Arefin 
Suzan Seherin 
