Dhaka earthquake risk has come under renewed scrutiny after experts warned that large parts of the capital stand on liquefaction-prone soil, raising serious concerns about construction practices, urban planning and disaster preparedness in one of the world’s most densely populated cities.
A recent Rajuk-BUET study, reported by The Daily Star, found that around 55% to 60% of Dhaka falls within the red and magenta zones of the city’s liquefaction hazard map. These categories indicate areas where the ground may become unstable during a major earthquake, particularly where loose or artificially filled soil sits above high groundwater levels.
The findings do not mean that every building in these areas is unsafe. They do, however, underline a major planning challenge: buildings in high-risk zones must be designed according to local soil conditions, with proper piling, soil improvement and strict compliance with the Bangladesh National Building Code.
Dhaka earthquake risk linked to liquefaction-prone soil
The central concern identified by experts is soil liquefaction. This occurs when water-saturated, loose soil loses strength during earthquake shaking and begins to behave more like a liquid than a solid foundation. When that happens, buildings may tilt, settle unevenly or suffer structural damage, even if they were built with piles.
According to the reported Rajuk-BUET findings, more than half of the 1,528 square kilometres under Rajuk’s jurisdiction is highly susceptible to liquefaction during a major earthquake. The study classified ground conditions using the Liquefaction Potential Index. Red zones, with an LPI above 15, indicate the highest risk. Magenta zones, with an LPI between 10 and 15, show moderate to high risk. Blue and green zones represent lower levels of susceptibility.
Experts quoted in the report said these zones also face seismic amplification, meaning that soft or loose ground can intensify earthquake shaking. This is especially relevant for areas developed on filled land, former wetlands, floodplains or low-lying basins.
Dhaka’s rapid urban expansion has made the issue more urgent. Wetlands have been filled, low-lying areas have been built over and high-rises have spread into parts of the city where soil conditions require far more careful engineering.
Why soil conditions matter for earthquake safety
A city’s earthquake risk depends not only on the strength of the tremor, but also on how the ground beneath buildings behaves. Stronger soil can absorb and transfer shaking differently from soft, wet or artificially filled soil.
Geologists say Dhaka’s soil profile includes red Pleistocene clay in some areas and soft alluvial deposits in others. Areas standing on older, firmer Pleistocene terraces generally have better ground conditions. Parts of Old Dhaka, Gulshan, Banani, Dhanmondi, the Dhaka University area, Khilgaon, Motijheel, Farmgate and Mirpur were identified in the report as benefiting from relatively stronger soil conditions.
By contrast, floodplain areas near the Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakkhya rivers can have deep layers of soft clay and recent fill. In such areas, the stronger red soil may lie far below the surface, making construction more technically demanding and potentially more expensive.
This does not mean construction is impossible in softer areas. Experts stressed that buildings can be constructed safely if design and foundation work are based on proper soil investigation. The problem arises when developers rely only on piling without improving surrounding weak soil, or when construction proceeds without fully accounting for local geotechnical conditions.
Rajuk-BUET study identifies high-risk zones in Dhaka
The liquefaction hazard map identifies several red and magenta zone areas across Dhaka and its wider urban region. Red-zone areas reported by The Daily Star include Hazratpur, Savar, Keraniganj, Narayanganj, Tegharia, Konda, Enayetnagar, Kashipur, Kalagachia, Bandar, Mugrapara, parts of Mohammadpur and Dhanmondi, New Market, Lalbag, Madanpur, Dumni, Badda, parts of Pathalia, Ashulia, Kataballi and Darus Salam.
Magenta-zone areas include parts of Cantonment, Pallabi, Gulshan, Rupganj, Khilgaon, Kafrul, Dakshinkhan, Adabor, Tejgaon, Rampura, Motijheel, Demra, Sabujbagh, Jatrabari, Kadamtali, parts of Fatulla and Hazaribagh, Kachpur and Paltan.
These classifications should be understood as planning and engineering warnings rather than simple labels of safety or danger. Within any broad zone, actual risk can vary from plot to plot depending on soil depth, groundwater level, building height, design, construction quality and foundation treatment.
The practical lesson is that soil testing and code-compliant design cannot be treated as formalities. They are central to whether a building can withstand strong shaking.
Bangladesh National Building Code compliance is critical
Experts have called for strict enforcement of the Bangladesh National Building Code, especially in high-risk areas. The BNBC sets standards for design, construction, materials, foundations and seismic safety. In earthquake-prone or liquefaction-prone areas, compliance with such standards is essential.
Proper piling alone may not be enough where the surrounding soil remains weak. Specialists have pointed to the need for soil improvement, particularly within the upper five to six metres in filled plots. Ground improvement methods can strengthen soil and reduce the risk of excessive settlement, tilting or amplification during a major earthquake.
The challenge is cost and enforcement. Soil improvement can be expensive, and developers may avoid it unless regulators require proper investigation and implementation. That creates a public safety concern, especially in a city where residential and commercial buildings often rise quickly in newly developed areas.
A building may appear sound under normal conditions but still perform poorly during a major earthquake if its foundation was not designed for the specific soil beneath it. This is why experts have urged that hazard maps be integrated into planning approvals and building-permit decisions.
Urban planning gaps increase earthquake vulnerability in Dhaka
Dhaka’s earthquake vulnerability is closely linked to its pattern of urban growth. The city has expanded faster than its infrastructure and planning systems. Former wetlands and low-lying areas have been converted into residential and commercial zones, sometimes without adequate attention to drainage, soil stability or disaster risk.
Former Bangladesh Urban Resilience Programme officials have said a soft-soil hazard map was prepared, but Rajuk has yet to fully incorporate it into planning. Rajuk officials have reportedly said the map and related proposals are under consideration and may be included when the Detailed Area Plan is updated.
This point is important because earthquake safety is not only a building-by-building issue. Land-use planning also matters. If high-risk zones are identified but not reflected in approvals, zoning, infrastructure design and enforcement, future development may continue to add vulnerability.
Risk-sensitive urban planning would require authorities to consider soil condition, road access, emergency response routes, open spaces, hospital capacity, fire risk and utility networks. In a dense city, earthquake damage can be worsened by blocked roads, fragile old buildings, falling construction materials, fires and overwhelmed emergency services.
Recent tremors added urgency to the debate
The debate over earthquake preparedness intensified after Bangladesh experienced a 5.7-magnitude earthquake in November 2025, with tremors felt in Dhaka and other areas. Reuters reported at the time that at least three people were killed and several others injured, with some damage reported in buildings and construction sites.
That event was not the kind of major earthquake experts are warning about, but it served as a reminder of the capital’s vulnerability. Even moderate shaking can cause panic, falling debris and localised damage where buildings are poorly maintained or construction sites are unsafe.
A stronger earthquake would create a much more serious test for Dhaka’s buildings, emergency services and public infrastructure. Experts therefore argue that the city cannot wait for a disaster before enforcing building safety rules.
Developers and regulators both face responsibility
Real estate representatives have said member developers follow the Bangladesh National Building Code and use materials designed with earthquake resistance in mind. That assurance is significant, but it does not remove the need for independent verification, plot-specific soil testing and regulatory oversight.
In a city as large as Dhaka, earthquake safety cannot depend only on voluntary compliance. Regulators must ensure that design approvals, construction supervision and occupancy permissions are based on accurate engineering assessments. Developers must also be held responsible for following approved designs rather than cutting costs during construction.
For older buildings, the challenge is different. Many structures were built before modern standards were fully applied or enforced. These buildings may require assessment, retrofitting or usage restrictions depending on their condition and location.
Preparedness must go beyond technical reports
The Rajuk-BUET findings provide a technical warning, but technical warnings only reduce risk when they lead to policy action. Dhaka needs stronger enforcement of building codes, updated planning rules, public awareness, emergency drills and transparent access to hazard information.
Residents should also be able to understand whether their area falls in a high-risk zone and what that means. However, the message must be communicated carefully. A red or magenta classification does not automatically mean a building will fail. It means construction and planning must follow stricter engineering requirements.
Public panic would not help. Public preparedness would.
Dhaka needs risk-sensitive planning before the next major quake
Dhaka earthquake risk is not a distant theoretical issue. It is a present urban safety challenge shaped by soil conditions, planning decisions, construction practices and regulatory enforcement.
The Rajuk-BUET study shows that large parts of the capital need more careful treatment because of liquefaction and seismic amplification risks. Experts are not arguing that development must stop in these areas. They are arguing that development must follow the ground beneath it.
For Dhaka, the way forward is clear: incorporate hazard maps into planning, enforce the Bangladesh National Building Code, require proper soil investigation, improve weak ground where necessary and assess vulnerable older buildings before a major earthquake exposes the city’s weaknesses.
The warning is serious, but it is also actionable. Dhaka’s fragile ground does not have to become a disaster if authorities, developers and residents treat earthquake preparedness as an urgent part of urban governance rather than a concern to revisit only after the next tremor.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 1, 2026
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