Victims include two children; hospitals overwhelmed as tremor causes mass panic
Relatives of a victim of the Armanitola railing collapse incident during today’s earthquake grieve outside the morgue of Sir Salimullah Medical College in Dhaka. Photo: Palash Khan/Star
At least 10 people, including two children, were killed and several hundreds injured after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Dhaka and surrounding districts this morning (November 21, 2025).
Four of the victims died in Dhaka, five in Narsingdi, and one in Narayanganj.
In Old Dhaka's Kasaituli area, a brick-built rooftop railing collapsed, killing Rafiul Islam, 21, a student of Sir Salimullah Medical College; Abdur Rahim, 48, a fabric trader; and Rahim's son Abul Aziz Remon, 12. At least ten others were injured, most of whom had gathered to buy beef from a nearby butcher's stall.
Brig Gen Md Mazharul Islam Khan, director of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, confirmed that the three were brought dead. He added that 20 others received treatment, with one admitted for further care.
In Dhaka's Mugda area, a 50-year-old security guard was killed after a portion of a building's wall collapsed on him during the earthquake.
The deceased, Md Maksud, was on duty at an under-construction building in Miazi Goli of Madinabagh when the incident occurred.
Relatives gather in front of the morgue of Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital. Photo: Palash Khan/Star
An official of Mugda Police Station said he was attempting to rush outside as the tremor shook the structure. At that moment, a portion of the wall from an upper floor collapsed and fell on him, leaving him critically injured.
He was immediately taken to the emergency department of Mugda Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead around 12:00pm.
In Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj, a 10-month-old girl named Fatema was killed when a wall collapsed on her. Her mother and a neighbouring woman were injured and are undergoing treatment at a local private medical college hospital.
In Narsingdi, five people were killed and about 100 were injured during the earthquake in Sadar, Palash, and Shibpur upazilas, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Anwar Hossain told The Daily Star.
Of them, four people were injured after construction material fell from an under-construction building at Gabtoli in Chinishpur union of Sadar upazila.
Bodies of the earthquake victims kept at the morgue of Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital. Photo: Palash Khan/Star
Two of the seriously injured were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where an eight-year-old child, Hafiz Omar, was declared dead. Later, his father Delwar Hossain Uzzal, who was in a critical condition, also died.
An elderly man named Kazem Ali Bhuiya, 75, from Malita West Para in Charsindur union of Palash upazila was critically injured when his earthen house collapsed on him. He died on the way to the district hospital after being rescued.
Another man, Nasiruddin, 60, of Islampara Nayapara village in Danga union of the same upazila, died after jumping off the roadside in panic while running away from his farmland during the earthquake, the CA's press wing said, quoting local residents. His relatives did not take the body to the hospital.
Besides, a man fell from a tree due to the tremors in Shibpur upazila and was immediately taken to Narsingdi District Hospital, from where he was referred to DMCH. He died on the way to Dhaka. The deceased was identified as Md Forkan, 40, a resident of Gajkitla village in Joynagar union.
The epicentre of today's earthquake was located in Madhabdi of Narsingdi.
At the DMCH, officials said 41 patients had arrived by 2:45pm, including two Dhaka University students. Six were admitted, while the rest received primary treatment and were released.
In Gazipur, at least 100 factory workers were injured in Tongi and Sreepur areas while rushing out of buildings during the tremor.
Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, visiting injured patients at DMCH, said all government hospitals have been instructed to ensure proper treatment for those affected by the earthquake.
