Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury speaks at a seminar at the National Press Club in the city yesterday. On his left are Prof Muzaffer Ahmad, Iqbal Habib and ATM Asaduzzaman.Photo: STAR Google News LinkFor all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel.Experts at a seminar yesterday urged the people to follow Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) during the construction of any building to reduce vulnerability to earthquake.They also called for raising awareness among the people about a moderate to severe earthquake in a bid to reduce the extent of damage in the country.The seminar was organised by Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) at the National Press Club in the city with its Chairman Prof Muzaffer Ahmad in the chair.Vice-chancellor of Brac University Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury in his keynote paper said there are a large number of buildings which have been constructed in the city without following the BNBC.“To avoid a catastrophe in case of a severe earthquake, it is imperative that measures are initiated to strictly enforce the provisions of the BNBC,” he added.Vice-president of Bangladesh Earthquake Society Prof Mehdi Ahmed Ansary of Buet said the intensity of the earthquake, which was recorded on July 27, was seven at Haluaghat and four in Dhaka.Damages were done at Dhuraura and Haluaghat in Mymensing, Durgapur in Netrakona and Nalitabari in Sherpur during the earthquake, he added.ASM Maksud Kamal, national expert on earthquake and tsunami preparedness, said as the nation has not faced any strong earthquake in last 100 years, there is lack of awareness among the people.He said the government is preparing a micro-zoning map giving all about a city, and the people will be able to know what kind of structures they will be able to build on their selected places.Stressing the need for building awareness Associate Professor of Asia Pacific University Dr Iftekhar Anam said due to lack of awareness many students of Dhaka University jumped out of their dormitories in panic.“First we have to think whether the house where we live and the office where we work is safe or not and then we have to take steps to make it safer,” he added.“An earthquake does not kill man, our activities and our structures kill us,” said ATM Asaduzzaman, a geologist of the Survey of Bangladesh.People will have to decide how they will live with earthquake, he added.Abdul Latif Helali of Rajuk hoped that as the Building Construction Rules 2008 have the provisions for punishment to all concerned, future buildings would be constructed without any deviation.