CEnertia 25 Seminar Highlights a Collective Commitment to a Safer, Earthquake-Resilient Bangladesh
The second day of CEnertia 25, organized by the Department of Civil Engineering at MIST, became a profound and thought-provoking gathering centered on Bangladesh’s journey toward earthquake resilience. The seminar, titled “Towards a Resilient Bangladesh: Understanding Seismic Risks, Designing Safety and Managing Emergencies,” brought together students, faculty members, and professionals for an inspiring exchange of ideas and responsibilities. The event was graced by Maj Gen Md Hasan Uz Zaman, ndu, afwc, psc, MPhil, Engineer in Chief, Bangladesh Army, who attended as the Chief Guest. In his remarks, he highlighted the urgency of building a disaster-aware nation and reminded the participants that engineers are entrusted with safeguarding lives through informed decisions, responsible design, and unwavering dedication.
The seminar was moderated by Prof. Md Zoynul Abedin, who opened the session by emphasizing that engineering is inherently humanitarian—every structure, every design, every precaution directly influences human lives. The first keynote speaker, Prof. Mehedi Ahmed Ansary, delivered an engaging presentation on Bangladesh’s seismic source zones, historical earthquakes, and the vulnerabilities associated with rapid urbanization. The second keynote, Prof. Raquib Ahsan, spoke on connections between technical preparedness and national resilience. He reminded the audience that resilience is not only an engineering endeavor but a nationwide effort involving communities, policymakers, and institutions. The final keynote speaker, Prof. Md Tauhid Ur Rahman, reflected on the 5.7-magnitude earthquake of November 21, 2025, which exposed critical gaps in evacuation, communication, and urban preparedness in Dhaka. He shared the human side of the disaster—the panic, the delays, the preventable damage—and drew lessons from successful response models in Japan and China. The program ended with a prize giving ceremony amongst the winners of the previous day competitions.
The second day of CEnertia 25 thus became a memorable milestone, inspiring all attendees to envision—and work toward—a safer, stronger, and more resilient Bangladesh.
