Bangladesh having situated in an active tectonic region bears, by and large, a character of earthquake prone. The present seismicity and tectonic setting envisages that about 60% of the country falls in high risk zone. The Department of Geology of Dhaka University has initiated an extensive research on earthquake and crustal dynamics in collaboration with Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) of Columbia University in New York, USA since 2000. The department is housed with the state-of-the-art technology for monitoring earthquakes and three dimensional crustal deformations know as ‘Dhaka University Earth Observatory (DUEO)’ established in February 2003. The observatory is equipped with digital broadband seismograph and Global Positioning System (GPS). DUEO is a Foreign Affiliate Member of ‘Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS).
DUEO is a consortium formed in co-operation with Rajshahi University, Khulna University, Chittagong University, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU), Shajalal University of Science and Technology (SUST).
Dhaka University Earth Observatory operates network of 6 permanent seismic stations, 6 portable seismographs and 18 continuous geodetic GPS stations in the country. The objectives of the Observatory is to carryout research on crustal dynamics, plate motions and to monitor the seismic activity in Bangladesh and surrounding countries, as well as to disseminate information of earthquakes to the government and the public. Data is open to scientific community.