Dhaka: The Disaster Management and Relief Ministry has identified in Dhaka city around 72,000 buildings which are vulnerable to earthquake.

Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Md Shah Kamal came up with the figure on Monday at a press briefing at the Secretariat following a strong earthquake that jolted the capital and other parts of the country at dawn.

Addressing the press briefing, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said the government has opened a control room to face possible earthquake risks which will remain open until further notice.

Besides, another control room was opened earlier at the Department of Disaster Management and all the control rooms will be kept open for the next 24 hours, the minister added.

Maya said the government has asked the authorities concerned in districts to open one control room each in their respective areas.

Earlier, a strong earthquake jolted the country at about 5:07am.

At least three people were killed in panic attack in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Lalmonirhat districts while 62 people, including 31 in Dhaka and 10-12 people in Sylhet, were injured during the earthquake, he added.

However, the deputy commissioners and the authorities concerned in the upazilas across the country have been asked to inform to the control room about the damages after due to the earthquake, said Maya.

Replying to a question about what steps the government has taken about earthquake, the minister said the government has already procured equipment worth Tk 69 crore for disaster management while a tender process to procure equipment worth TK 145 crore is underway.

Besides, fire service, Red Crescent, armed forces and scouts are prepared for tackling any kind of natural disaster, he said adding, ‘We hope the rest equipment will be procured by June next.’

Maya also said the authorities concerned of the Public Works Ministry to ask all to follow the building code and take necessary actions after identifying risky buildings.

Meanwhile, Disaster Management Secretary Md Shah Kamal said the government has asked the authorities concerned of disaster management committees from union to district levels to arrange meetings for holding a discussion on earthquake from Tuesday.