The quake struck at 10:38 am (0438 GMT), near the city of Narsingdi, about 33 kilometres (16 miles) from the crowded capital Dhaka.

The USGS's PAGER system, which provides preliminary assessments on the impact of earthquakes, estimated the potential for "significant casualties" and damage.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, which recorded the magnitude as 5.7, shaking lasted for 26 seconds and the epicentre was in Madhabdi, Narsingdi.

The Friday morning earthquake sparked terror with many in the Muslim-majority nation of 170 million people at home on their day off when they heard a loud bang and rushed outside.

Some people were seen weeping, while others appeared shocked, AFP reporters in Dhaka said.

Moinul Hossain, director of hospitals for the Directorate General of Health Services, said they "were not aware of casualties".