United News of Bangladesh

Several earthquakes including one measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale, have been felt in different parts of Bangladesh including the capital Dhaka over the last two days. This has spread panic among people in Dhaka city and surrounding districts. Fire Service and Civil Defence Department has urged people in the country to stay calm and follow eight essential safety measures during an earthquake. What to do during an earthquake: • Do not panic, stay calm and steady. If you are on the ground floor, quickly move outside to an open space.If you are in a multi-storey building, follow the Drop–Cover–Hold method: Drop down, cover under a sturdy table or desk and hold on firmly or take shelter beside a column or under a beam. If possible, protect your head with a pillow, cushion or similar object.• Do not use lifts during an earthquake. Once the shaking stops, immediately switch off electrical and gas connections.• Stay away from balconies, windows, bookshelves, almirahs, wooden furniture or any hanging heavy objects. Keep a torch, helmet, essential medicines and a whistle within reach for emergency use.• If you are outdoors, stay in an open area away from trees, tall buildings and electric poles.• If you are inside a vehicle, stop it away from overbridges, flyovers, trees and electric poles. Remain inside the vehicle until the shaking subsides.• After a major tremor, aftershocks may follow. Stay away from damaged buildings, bridges and infrastructure, as further shaking may cause additional collapses and casualties.• Collective awareness and preparedness can reduce the scale of damage. Read more: Ceiling And Wall Cracks After An Earthquake: When To Worry Emergency hotline number: For emergency assistance, contact the Fire Service and Civil Defence hotline: 102.

A fire that quickly tore through a branch of Eastern Bank in the port city's Halishahar area on Friday afternoon was brought under control after nearly two hours, the authorities said. Anisur Rahman, deputy director at the fire service and civil defence department Chattogram, said the blaze began at the bank near the Halishahar Excess Road at 12pm. Read more: Fire at Eastern Refinery in Ctg: 4 burnt On information, seven firefighting units responded to the fire and the responders could tame the flames at 1.45pm, he said. The reasons for the fire mishap and the extent of damage could not immediately be confirmed, Anisur added.

A fire that quickly tore through a 14-storey private general and dental medical college hospital building in the Nikunja area of Khilkhet in Dhaka Thursday was brought under control after almost two hours, the authorities said. The blaze began on the eighth floor of the building, which houses the female hostel of City Dental College and Hospital, at around 7pm.  "On information, nine firefighting units of the fire service responded to the fire within 10 minutes. However, they could tame the flames around 8:45pm," Shahjahan Shikder, deputy assistant director (media cell) of Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters, said. Read more: Dhaka: Fire breaks out at packaging factory  No news of casualties was reported till the filing this report.  However, the reasons for the mishap and the exact extent of damage could not immediately be confirmed, Shahjahan said.