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| Preamble: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bangladesh is located in a tectonically active region close to the junction of the north moving Indian plate and the Eurasian plate resulting in several seismic sources (fault zones) in and around Bangladesh. Earthquake catalogue for Bangladesh and surrounding area (Sharfuddin, 2001) shows that 1200 earthquakes with Ms�4.0 have occurred between 1865 to 1999. During the last 150 years, seven major earthquakes with M�7.0 have affected Bangladesh (Choudhury, 2001). Two of them had their epicentres within Bangladesh and caused considerable damage locally. The 1897 Great Indian earthquake (M=8.7) in Shillong, considered to be one of the strongest earthquakes of the world, had its epicentre only 230 km away from Dhaka and caused extensive damage to brick masonry structures in Bangladesh including Dhaka. Major historical earthquakes affecting Dhaka are listed in Table 1. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| � | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| �������Table 1. Effect of major historical earthquakes on Dhaka (Ansary, 2001) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name of the earthquake | Magnitude | Intensity at Dhaka | Distance (km) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1869 Cachar | 7.5 | V | 250 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1885 Bengal | 7.0 | VII | 170 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1897 Great Indian | 8.1 | VIII+ | 230 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1918 Srimangal | 7.6 | VI | 150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1930 Dhubri | 7.1 | V+ | 250 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In recent years, earthquakes have occurred quite frequently in Bangladesh and have caused alarm especially in Chittagong, Moheshkhali and Sylhet causing structural damage and casualties. Occurrence of a minor earthquake (Magnitude about 4) on Dec.19, 2001 with its epicentre close to Dhaka has raised the possibility that next time a stronger local earthquake may strike Dhaka. Prof. Roger Bilham of University of Colorado, Boulder has recently conducted a study of seismic strain buildup along the Himalayan mountain front. In a recent paper, Bilham et al. (2001) concluded that at least one 8.1 to 8.3 magnitude earthquake is overdue along the boundary of Asian and Indian plates threatening large cities of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The possibility that a major earthquake can affect major cities of Bangladesh including Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Rangpur is quite high. The consequences of such an event can be catastrophic if a densely populated urban area such as Dhaka is affected. Even a moderate earthquake can lead to wide-spread collapse of buildings and scores of deaths. This would be due to lack of earthquake engineering awareness, construction lacking earthquake resistant design, poor quality of construction and absence of post-earthquake response and recovery. The 1993 Killari and 2001 Gujrat earthquakes in India have amply demonstrated that inappropriate construction technology may lead to high casualty levels even for moderate ground shaking. According to a recent study (Cardona et al., 1999), Dhaka obtained the highest relative earthquake disaster risk among several cities of the world due to its vulnerable situation against earthquakes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In the absence of a national plan to face the threat of earthquakes in Bangladesh, no coordinated effort has been made so far. The establishment of a national centre for earthquake engineering is a first step to coordinate activities in this field. The department of civil engineering having qualified faculty members with research and consulting experience in earthquake engineering proposes to establish such a center. The main goal of the proposed centre is to assist in national efforts for reducing the impact of an earthquake on our society. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Centre Objectives: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Earthquake Engineering Research: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinate earthquake engineering research activities in the department and publication of research report series. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pursue research projects with national and international financing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| �Develop computational facilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Develop testing facilities for dynamic testing of soils and structures | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Develop own library | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Install and operate seismic instrumentation at BUET | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engineering application for earthquake disaster mitigation: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Offer consultancy services in earthquake engineering | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Collection and analysis of seismic data for realistic assessment of seismic hazard in Bangladesh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vulnerability assessment of buildings and structures in Bangladesh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Earthquake resistant design | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listing of national experts and scientists working in the field of earthquake disaster mitigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dissemination of knowledge: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arrange seminars and training courses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Publication of easy-to follow manuals in English and Bangla on topics related to seismic strengthening of non-engineered and engineered Buildings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Generate public awareness: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Publication of bulletins in English and Bangla for the general public to generate earthquake engineering awareness | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Create and maintain website within the BUET website | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Publication of newsletters | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Co-ordination with other organizations: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Formation of a proposed National Earthquake Society for Bangladesh and serve as its focal point. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maintain liason with IAEE and other national earthquake societies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Develop and coordinate activities among different national organizations such as GSB, BMD, Petrobangla and other Universities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foster exchange visits and training of professionals at reputed foreign institutions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||