Bangladesh, located at the junction of the Indian, Eurasian, and Burma tectonic plates, faces a high risk of major earthquakes due to active fault lines like Dauki and Madhupur, which threaten Dhaka and other parts of the country. To tackle this life-threatening risk, young researcher Md. Ibrahim Molla has developed an affordable and advanced “Smart Earthquake Early Warning Device.”
Ibrahim Molla, a student at Daffodil Institute of IT (DIIT), Dhaka, also serves as the head of the institute’s R&D department. He previously gained recognition for creating the popular Bazardor App for the National Consumer Rights Protection Department (DNCRP). His new invention, developed entirely with his own technology from circuit design to final assembly, can provide crucial early warnings during earthquakes.
The device works by detecting the difference in seismic wave speeds. During an earthquake, P-waves travel at about 6.0 km/s and signal an impending quake without causing damage, while S-waves, traveling at 3.5 km/s, cause destruction. Upon detecting the P-wave, the device immediately sounds a continuous 30-second high-decibel siren, giving people precious time to seek safety before the destructive S-wave arrives.
According to Ibrahim Molla’s calculations, the warning time depends on the distance from Dhaka to the earthquake’s epicenter: Madhupur Fault (50 km) provides 6 seconds, Dauki Fault (160 km) 19 seconds, Indo-Burma Fault (200 km) 24 seconds, and the Great Himalayan Fault (756 km) 90 seconds. In the event of a major Himalayan tremor, the device could alert residents in Dhaka nearly 1.5 minutes in advance, a significant improvement for disaster preparedness.
Unlike similar devices in countries like Japan and the USA, which cost between 15,000–25,000 BDT, Ibrahim Molla’s device is priced at only 3,500 BDT, making it affordable for ordinary households. It works fully offline, differentiates real earthquakes from ordinary vibrations using advanced digital processing, and sounds a 30-second siren to wake people in deep sleep, including children.
Ibrahim Molla said, “Our aim is to bring this life-saving technology to every home, school, and hospital. Even a few seconds’ warning in densely populated Dhaka can save thousands of lives. Its affordability and offline functionality are its main strengths.” This innovation is expected to take Bangladesh’s disaster management and technological capabilities to a new global level.
