C T Online Desk: Five people have died across the country following Friday morning’s earthquake.
Three deaths were reported in Old Dhaka, while one person each died in Narsingdi and Narayanganj.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed deep shock and sorrow over the casualties and the damage reported in several districts.
Shortly after the tremor, the railing of a five-storey building at Bongshal collapsed, killing three pedestrians on the spot.
Police said the victims’ identities could not be confirmed immediately. Ten others were injured in the incident.
A meat shop operated on the ground floor, where customers and pedestrians were also injured. Fire Service and police personnel arrived at the scene soon after.
Bongshal police station Inspector (Investigation) Mohammad Sohel Hossain told Dhaka Tribune that no building collapse had occurred, but a portion of the railing had fallen. Three people standing beneath were critically injured and taken to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared them dead.
Their bodies are now in the hospital morgue, and efforts to identify them are underway.
In Narsingdi’s Palash upazila, an elderly woman died when a mud wall collapsed during the tremor. More than 40 people were injured in separate incidents, including three critically injured by falling cornice debris.
Palash Police Station OC, Md Monir Hossain confirmed the fatality.
In Narayanganj’s Rupganj, a newborn named Fatema died after a wall collapsed. The child’s mother and a neighbour were injured, said Inspector Mokhlesur Rahman of Bhulta police outpost.
In Gazipur’s Sreepur, more than 300 garment workers were injured in a stampede while rushing out of a factory during the quake.
The incident occurred at Denimex Limited in the Gargaria Masterbari area. Injured workers were taken to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital, Dhaka’s National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor) also known as Pangu Hospital, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, and other facilities.
The earthquake was felt across Dhaka and several districts at 10:38am.
According to preliminary data, it measured 5.7 in magnitude, with the epicenter in Narsingdi.
