SYLHET:  Bangladesh lies within the jaws of the global earthquake zone along with Myanmar and India, but Sylhet is bearing heavy risk of tremor, says a research report.

If there be a strong quake in the region, it is likely to cause devastation since the country is ill prepared for combating such a disaster, according to the research findings under the Civil and Environment Project of the Shahjalal Science and Technology University (SST).

Director of the project Prof. Dr. Zahir-bin-Alam told banglanews24.com.bd that the devastation would be colossal if there is a strong tremor in the Sylhet region because of sandy earth, hill cutting, superstructure weaknesses, faulty foundation of buildings and houses constructed without beams.

An eight-member research team of the university surveyed 5,000 houses and evaluated the earth conditions.

Dr. Zahir said, “Most part of Sylhet soil was filled artificially. Besides, earth of many areas is moist that made the zone quake-prone.”

As such, the project authorities advised people not to construct high-rise buildings in those places.

The study showed that 74 per cent of the houses in Sylhet town were not constructed abiding by building codes.

The researchers found the hospitals and schools of the city more fragile.
 The buildings have no resistance capacity to a jolt.

The worst tremor hit Sylhet in 1548, 1642, 1663, 1869, 1897, 1918, 1930, 1935, 1950, 1955, 1969 and 1999.


BDST/ 1800/ AUGUST 4, 2010