A devastating 5.5 magnitude earthquake has struck Bangladesh, resulting in the tragic loss of at least five lives, including one child, and leaving more than 450 people injured. The epicenter of the quake was located near the Narsingdi district, approximately 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the capital city of Dhaka. The tremors caused widespread panic, with residents fleeing their homes as buildings shook and makeshift structures collapsed. A stampede at Dhaka University injured at least 10 students as they attempted to evacuate. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the country’s environmental adviser, remarked, ‘We have never experienced an earthquake this powerful in the last five years.’ In Dhaka’s Armanitola area, three fatalities occurred when a railing and debris fell from a five-story building, according to deputy police commissioner Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami. Nitai Chandra De Sarkar, director of the monitoring division, reported 461 injuries nationwide, with 252 in the Gazipur district north of Dhaka. Sarkar emphasized the immediate focus on assessing casualties and damage, noting that rescue operations and debris management were not yet significant challenges. Witnesses described the terrifying experience, with Bengali Sadman Sakib stating, ‘I have never felt such a tremor in my 30 years of life.’ The earthquake also disrupted Ireland’s second cricket test match in Bangladesh, causing a brief pause in play. Heinrich Malan, Ireland’s head coach, expressed concern for those affected, stating, ‘We’re thinking of everyone and hoping there wasn’t too much damage done.’ Tremors were felt in eastern Indian states bordering Bangladesh, but no major damage was reported.