5.7-magnitude earthquake that jolted Dhaka and parts of Bangladesh this morning (Friday) has not only claimed at least six lives across the country, but it has also critically exposed the long-feared seismic vulnerability of the nation's primary aviation hub, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).

Visible structural damage to the airport building has ignited a fierce debate among experts and the public over a pervasive culture of ‘seismic negligence’ that places passengers, staff, and aircraft at grave risk of catastrophic failure.

Tremor, which struck at approximately 10:38 am with its epicenter in nearby Narsingdi, caused immediate panic and physical damage at HSIA. Plaster from the driveway in the departure area reportedly fell off, and sources within the airport confirmed visible cracking at the connection point between departure gates 4 and 5, accompanied by falling ceiling panels.

While airport officials were quick to cordon off the affected areas and assure the public that flights had resumed, the incident has served as a stark, physical reminder of a deeply concerning reality: Bangladesh's critical infrastructure, including its airports, may not be equipped to withstand a major seismic event.

For years, seismic experts have warned that Dhaka sits in a high-risk zone, vulnerable to a major earthquake at any time due to stress buildup in active fault systems. Studies indicate that a significant portion of buildings in the capital were constructed without adhering to proper building codes or incorporating earthquake-resistant features.

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has faced consistent criticism for a lack of long-term planning and regulatory oversight, often functioning with temporary leadership that lacks a deep background in international aviation safety standards. This systemic neglect means that while other incidents like fires and plane crashes (such as the tragic air force jet crash in July 2025) have garnered attention, the silent threat of seismic vulnerability remains unaddressed at a policy level.

"The absence of a major earthquake for over 80 years has created a dangerous complacency," one expert noted, suggesting the current generation is largely unaware of the potential for a severe disaster. The concern is that in the event of a powerful quake, the structural integrity of airport buildings could fail, leading to scenarios where aircraft could be damaged on the tarmac, fuel lines ruptured causing fires, and critical control towers incapacitated, leading to a breakdown in operations and potentially mass casualties.

This minor damage at HSIA should be viewed not as a one-off incident, but as a critical warning. The government has formed committees to probe previous incidents, such as the major fire at the cargo village in October, but the lack of transparent enforcement of building codes leaves the public infrastructure in a precarious state.

The current incident demands immediate, transparent, and expert-led assessments of all airport infrastructure. Failure to address this seismic negligence is a gamble with human lives, risking a future catastrophe that could see planes grounded, facilities destroyed, and the nation's primary air link severed in a time of greatest need. The time for proactive preparedness, including retrofitting vulnerable structures and enforcing stringent safety standards, is long overdue.

Airlines, air forces, and airports in seismic-prone countries such as Japan, Chile, New Zealand, Türkiye, the United States (particularly California and Alaska), and Indonesia have developed and implemented a set of best practices to prevent and mitigate earthquake-related damage to aircraft that are following:

Quick checklist used by Japan Airlines & Japan Air Self-Defense Force (the gold standard in 2025)

·         If Japan Meteorological Agency issues “Tokai/Tōnankai/Nankai watch” → all aircraft 70%+ fuel + tiedowns mandatory.

·         No aircraft on jacks from November to April (winter = higher big-quake probability).

·         All line aircraft connected to EEW receiver → auto max brake + alert to pilots/ground staff.

·         Hangars equipped with seismic isolators + automatic roller doors that open at 60 gal acceleration.

Countries that suffer big earthquakes (Japan, Chile, New Zealand, Türkiye) have learned that a few cheap, simple rules (keep them heavy, tie them down, get them out of hangars, and never leave them on jacks) prevent 95%+ of earthquake damage to aircraft on the ground.

These are not theoretical, they are standard operating procedures in every high-seismic-risk air force and airline in 2025.