Earthquake Preparedness for Apartment Buildings in Bangladesh

Earthquake preparedness for apartment buildings in Bangladesh is something most landlords think about only for a few days after a tremor is felt in Dhaka, Chattogram or Sylhet. Phones light up, residents run down the stairs, and for a short time everyone talks about building strength. Then life moves on. Yet Bangladesh sits in a seismically active region, and experts have long warned that dense cities with many older or non-compliant buildings face significant risk in a strong earthquake.

As a landlord or building owner, you cannot control the earth, but you can do a great deal to reduce risk to the people living in your building. This guide explains, in practical terms, how to assess your building, which structural and non-structural steps help, how to prepare an emergency plan with tenants, and what to do during and after a quake. It is general safety information, not an engineering assessment; for structural questions, always consult a qualified structural engineer.

Why Earthquake Preparedness Matters for Landlords

Earthquake preparedness is not only a moral responsibility; it is also practical risk management. A building that has been assessed, maintained and prepared is more likely to protect lives, suffer less damage and recover faster. Tenants increasingly ask about safety, particularly families with children, expats and corporate tenants whose employers may require safety information.

• Life safety: The first priority is that people inside can survive a quake and evacuate safely.
• Property protection: Reducing damage protects your largest asset.
• Legal and regulatory context: The Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) sets standards for structural design, including seismic considerations, and development authorities such as RAJUK in Dhaka regulate approvals. Buildings constructed without following approved designs may carry greater risk.
• Tenant trust: Visible preparation, such as clear exits and a plan, reassures residents.

Understanding Your Building's Risk

Every building is different. Risk depends on how it was designed and built, the soil beneath it, its age and its maintenance. Some factors that engineers generally consider include:

If you are not sure about your building's approval status, our guide on what landlords should know about RAJUK approvals explains the basics.

Step 1: Get a Structural Assessment

The most important step for an existing building is a professional assessment by a qualified structural engineer. Depending on the building, this can range from a visual inspection to detailed testing of concrete strength and reinforcement.

• Gather all documents first: approved plans, structural drawings, soil test report, and any records of renovations.
• Ask the engineer to identify major weaknesses and to prioritise recommendations.
• If retrofitting is recommended, get a written design and use experienced contractors.
• Keep the assessment report safely; it is valuable information for future buyers, insurers and tenants.

Important: Never allow any tenant, shop owner or contractor to break walls, cut beams or columns, or add floors without an engineer's approval. Many structural problems begin with "small" alterations.

Step 2: Non-Structural Safety Inside Flats

Much of the injury in earthquakes comes not from building collapse but from falling objects: heavy shelves, glass, water heaters and ceiling fixtures. These steps are low-cost and can be done by landlords and tenants together.

• Secure tall furniture such as wardrobes, bookshelves and showcases to walls with brackets.
• Fix water heaters (geysers) firmly and check gas and water connections.
• Anchor rooftop water tanks and check their supports.
• Check ceiling fans and heavy lights are firmly fixed.
• Keep heavy items low and avoid placing them above beds and sofas.
• Use safety film on large glass panels where practical.
• Keep gas cylinders upright and secured in ventilated areas.

Step 3: Keep Evacuation Routes Clear

In many buildings, stairs and landings are used as storage for shoes, bicycles, furniture and plant pots. In an emergency, these become obstacles. Collapsible gates locked at night can also trap residents.

• Keep staircases, landings and exits completely clear.
• Make sure the main gate and any collapsible gates can be opened quickly; ensure the guard and residents know where keys are.
• Install emergency lighting or battery lights on stairs, since power often fails during quakes.
• Mark exits clearly.
• Identify a safe assembly point outside, away from buildings, walls, electric poles and wires.

These steps also help with fire safety. See our guide to building safety compliance in Bangladesh for a broader checklist.

Step 4: Utilities: Gas, Electricity and Water

After an earthquake, damaged gas lines and electrical wiring can cause fires. Everyone in the building should know how to shut off utilities.

Label valves and switches clearly and post a simple diagram near the entrance.

Step 5: Create a Building Emergency Plan

A simple written plan, shared with all residents, turns panic into action. It does not need to be complicated.

What the plan should include

1. What to do during shaking (Drop, Cover and Hold On).
2. When and how to evacuate after shaking stops.
3. Assembly point location.
4. Who checks each floor and helps elderly, children and people with disabilities.
5. Who shuts off gas and electricity.
6. Emergency numbers: national emergency 999, the nearest fire station, hospital and police station.
7. Contact list of residents and a way to confirm everyone is safe, such as a building messaging group.

Keeping a resident register

Know who lives in the building, including family members, domestic workers and elderly residents who may need help. A tenant register with family details and emergency contacts is also useful for police verification and general safety.

What to Do During an Earthquake

Share this guidance with every resident. It reflects widely recommended safety advice:

• Drop to your hands and knees, Cover your head and neck under a sturdy table or against an interior wall, and Hold On until shaking stops.
• Stay away from windows, glass, outer walls and heavy furniture.
• Do not use lifts.
• Do not rush down crowded stairs during shaking; stampedes cause injuries.
• If outside, move away from buildings, walls, poles and wires.
• If in bed, stay there and protect your head with a pillow.

What to Do After the Shaking Stops

1. Check yourself and others for injuries.
2. If you smell gas, do not light matches or switch on electrical items; shut the gas valve if safe and leave.
3. Evacuate calmly by the stairs to the assembly point, helping others.
4. Do not re-enter until the building has been checked, especially if there are new cracks.
5. Expect aftershocks.
6. Follow official information from the government, Fire Service and Civil Defence and reliable news, not rumours on social media.

Post-earthquake inspection for landlords

After any noticeable tremor, the landlord or caretaker should do a basic walkthrough and record observations with photos. Look for new cracks in columns, beams and walls; damaged staircases; leaking water or gas; tilted water tanks; and damaged boundary walls. Diagonal or wide cracks in structural members are a warning sign; call a structural engineer before allowing normal use. Inform tenants honestly about what you found and what you are doing.

Budgeting for Earthquake Safety

Many safety measures are affordable. Structural retrofitting can be expensive, but it may be planned over time based on an engineer's priorities.

For example (illustrative): A landlord of a 6-storey building with 10 flats plans a basic preparedness package. The figures below are invented for arithmetic only; get real quotes.

Spread over 10 flats, this illustrative package is Tk 6,600 per flat as a one-time cost. Some owners fund it from the service charge reserve; others treat it as a capital improvement. If retrofitting is recommended, include it in a longer-term building renovation plan.

Running a Drill with Tenants

A short drill once or twice a year helps residents remember the plan. Announce it in advance, keep it to 20 or 30 minutes, practise Drop, Cover and Hold On, then walk calmly to the assembly point. Afterwards, discuss what went wrong: a locked gate, a blocked landing, or someone who did not know where to go. The Fire Service and Civil Defence and some organisations run awareness programmes; you can ask your local fire station about guidance.

A household emergency kit for tenants

Encourage each household to keep a small grab bag near the door. It is useful not just for earthquakes but for fires, floods and long power cuts.

• Drinking water and some dry food such as biscuits and chira.
• A torch with spare batteries and a power bank for mobile phones.
• A basic first aid kit and a supply of any regular medicines.
• Copies of NID, passports, land and property documents in a waterproof pouch.
• Some cash, since mobile networks and ATMs may not work for a while.
• A whistle to signal for help, and a list of emergency contact numbers on paper.
• Sturdy shoes near the bed, since broken glass is common after shaking.

Commercial and Mixed-Use Buildings

Buildings with shops on the ground floor and flats above, or markets and shopping complexes, face extra challenges. Shop tenants often want wide open frontage, which sometimes leads to requests to remove walls; these requests must be checked by an engineer. Heavy stock, signboards and billboards on facades can fall into the street. Large numbers of visitors who do not know the building make clear exit signs and trained staff even more important.

• Include earthquake and fire rules in every shop lease, including a ban on structural alterations without approval.
• Inspect signboards, billboards and facade fixtures regularly.
• Train guards and cleaning staff to guide visitors to exits.
• Keep shutters and gates operable from inside during business hours.

Talking to tenants without causing panic

Some landlords worry that talking about earthquakes will scare tenants away. In practice, most residents appreciate a calm, practical approach. Share the emergency plan at move-in along with house rules, post the assembly point and emergency numbers near the entrance, and send a short reminder once or twice a year. Be honest if an engineer has recommended work, and explain the timeline for doing it.

Sample message: "Dear residents, for everyone's safety we have prepared a simple emergency plan. Please read the notice at the ground floor, keep stairs clear, and note that our assembly point is the open field opposite the gate. A short drill will be held on Saturday at 10 am. Thank you for your cooperation."

Common Mistakes

• Assuming a building is safe because it "survived the last tremor".
• Adding floors or rooftop rooms without structural design.
• Allowing shop tenants to remove walls or columns for more space.
• Keeping collapsible gates locked with the key held by one person.
• Using stairs as storage.
• Having no list of residents or emergency contacts.
• Ignoring visible cracks and rusted reinforcement.

Final Thoughts

Earthquake preparedness for apartment buildings in Bangladesh starts with honest knowledge of your building, followed by practical steps: a professional structural assessment, securing heavy items, clear exits, labelled utility shut-offs, and a simple emergency plan everyone understands. None of this guarantees safety in a major quake, but each step can reduce harm.

Keeping an up-to-date tenant register with family members and emergency contacts is an easy but important part of preparedness. Bariwala ERP stores tenant profiles, family members and visitor records in one place, which can help building managers know who is in the building. For anything structural, however, rely on a qualified engineer.

This article is general safety information and not engineering or legal advice.