Lone seismograph in south lies inoperative
The lone seismograph of the southern region has remained inoperative since its inauguration at Patuakhali in May 2008 due to lack of a functional hand terminal device.
"Tremor jolted the area at around 10:00am on September 11 for around 10-20 seconds. As there is no functioning seismograph-machine in the region, we could not determine the duration, strength and epicentre of the tremors," Prodip Kumar Roy, assistant director of Kalapara Weather Radar Station, said.
The geology department of Dhaka University of Bangladesh in collaboration with Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University of the United States of America installed a seismograph machine on Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) campus under Bangladesh-USA joint research project at a cost of above Tk 1 crore.
The seismograph instrument was inaugurated at PSTU on May 27, 2008.
At the time of inauguration, a computer from PSTU lab was temporarily used and it was returned soon after the function.
Later a computer with Linux operating system was procured for the project in 2009 and an underground chamber for the censors was constructed by using a grant of Tk 10 lakh from the University Grant Commission in February 2010.
However the seismograph has remained inoperative since installation, as digitalised configuration was not done properly and the hand terminal device does not work.
Md Asaduzzaman Sumon, teacher of agriculture engineering of PSTU and in charge of seismographic centre of PSTU, said that concerned project authority has been informed about the problem and has assured to supply the device and configure the system soon.
Dr Syed Humayun Akter, professor of geology department of Dhaka University and director of the project, said that Bangladesh is now under threat from an imminent major earthquake.
In Bangladesh six seismographs are installed at six permanent seismographic centres at Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Patuakhali.
Except for the first two, others were installed under the Bangladesh-USA joint project and except the last two, other four permanent seismographic centres are working properly, he informed.
Besides, there are six temporary seismographic centres at Madhupur Garh, Manikganj, Safipur, Tangail, Bhuapur and Kaliakoir.
Except the first two, other four centres are to be transferred to Chandina, Baghaichhari, Ruma and Barkal within a few days and all centres would be inter-connected with meteorological and disaster management department, said Dr Akter.
About the seismographic centre at PSTU, the project director said he would visit it on September 20 and try to manage an alternative hand terminal device and parts for its repair to make the centre operative as early as possible.
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