Earthquake Shakes Kolkata And Northeast India After Major Jolt Near Dhaka
Bangladesh: A moderate earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale struck near Dhaka on Friday morning, sending tremors across Kolkata and several northeastern cities.
The United States Geological Survey reported that the quake originated close to Narsingdi in Bangladesh at 10.08 in the morning, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres.
The shaking reached Kolkata around 10.10 in the morning and lasted only a few seconds, but it was strong enough for residents to step out of homes and offices as a precaution. In several neighbourhoods, people gathered on streets and open spaces while waiting for further updates.
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Videos capturing the moment began circulating widely on social media shortly afterwards, showing ceiling fans shaking and people evacuating buildings in haste.
More Footage: A M5.5 earthquake hit near Dhaka, Bangladesh, early Nov 21, felt strongly in Dhaka, Barisal, Comilla, and Kolkata (India). #earthquake #sismo
Damage reported in Dhaka; tremors felt in multiple cities across Bangladesh and eastern India. https://t.co/DNeAPzvP88 pic.twitter.com/TZK7qyOaWO
— GeoTechWar (@geotechwar) November 21, 2025
Early information indicated that cities in Northeast India, such as Guwahati, Agartala and Shillong, also experienced mild tremors. So far, authorities have not reported any injury or structural damage in India or Bangladesh.
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In October, Bangladesh recorded a smaller tremor of magnitude 3.4 according to the National Centre for Seismology. Friday’s quake drew attention once again to the region’s geological sensitivity. Shallow earthquakes often cause stronger surface shaking because seismic waves travel a shorter distance before reaching the ground.
Bangladesh lies at the meeting point of three major tectonic plates. The Indian Plate moves northeast at approximately six centimetres each year, while the Eurasian Plate shifts north at around two centimetres annually.
The country is intersected by several significant fault systems, including the Bogura fault, the Tripura fault, the Dauki fault and the Assam fault. The Shillong Plateau area also contributes to seismic vulnerability.
High-risk zones within Bangladesh include Chattogram, the Chattogram Hill Tracts and the Jaintiapur region of Sylhet. Dhaka remains one of the most densely populated urban centres in the world, with more than thirty thousand people per square kilometre, placing it among the most earthquake-prone cities globally.
