Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) is set to host a critical bimonthly webinar focusing on “Earthquake Risk in Bangladesh.” Scheduled for Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM Dhaka time (11:00 AM to 1:00 PM US Eastern Time), the two-hour virtual event will bring together leading geoscientists and civil engineering experts from around the globe to discuss the country’s seismic vulnerabilities and necessary preparedness strategies.
Organized as part of BEN’s ongoing efforts to address crucial environmental issues in collaboration with Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), the session aims to foster thoughtful dialogue among policymakers, scholars, and local experts. The comprehensive discussion will be chaired by Dr. Md. Khalequzzaman, BEN Global Coordinator and Professor of Geophysics at the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania.
The panel features four distinguished speakers who will tackle various dimensions of earthquake threats. Dr. Leonardo “Nano” Seeber will deliver a focused presentation on the potential risks of a megathrust earthquake in the region, drawing upon findings from his highly regarded 2016 paper published in Nature Geoscience. Following him, Dr. Mehedi Ahmed Ansary, Professor of Civil Engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), will highlight the severe infrastructure damage and broader environmental consequences that a major quake could inflict on the densely populated capital city of Dhaka.
Joining them on the panel are respected experts Mir Fazlul Karim and Dr. Arif Mohiuddin Sikder of Virginia Commonwealth University, who will both provide further insights into the specific seismic risks threatening the country. Following the expert presentations, the event will transition into a 30-minute interactive Q&A session, allowing the audience to engage directly with the full panel.
The highly anticipated session will offer a vital platform for advancing earthquake awareness and disaster resilience in Bangladesh.
