Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (Dhaka airport) experienced structural damage following a significant earthquake that struck Dhaka on Friday morning. Ceiling panels collapsed in the departure driveway, connecting Gates 4 and 5, triggering immediate safety responses from airport authorities.

Group Captain SM Ragib Samad, Executive Director of Shahjalal International Airport, confirmed minimal damage. "Some plaster fell from ceiling joints on departure driveway. Alhamdulillah, runway, apron, and terminal remain unaffected. Flight operations continue normally," he stated.

Eyewitnesses reported passenger panic as tremors shook the airport. Authorities quickly cordoned off the affected area, restricting passenger movement temporarily. Experts from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) have initiated a comprehensive structural assessment to evaluate potential risks.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department recorded the earthquake at 5.7 on the Richter scale, striking at 10:38:26 AM. Assistant Meteorologist Farzana Sultana advised citizens to remain calm, noting potential minor aftershocks but emphasizing no significant secondary tremors were detected.

Historical context reveals previous seismic activities in the region, including a 5.6 magnitude earthquake on 5 March and another near Moirang city in India on 28 May, which caused light tremors in Dhaka and surrounding districts.

A joint study conducted by the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP), involving government and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) experts, estimated in 2009 that an earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher could have catastrophic consequences for Bangladesh.

Recent research indicates a more severe potential impact, with a survey by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) estimating that nearly 865,000 buildings could collapse if a 6.9 magnitude earthquake strikes along the Madhupur fault near Tangail.