'Move move': Escalator suddenly speeds up at Dhaka university, triggers panic among students. Video

A video recorded at BRAC University in Dhaka showed students struggling to maintain their footing after an escalator suddenly began moving at an unusually high speed. The footage, which circulated widely on social media platform X, captured moments of visible alarm as students attempted to reach the upper floor without falling.

The 16-second clip showed what appeared to be a standard escalator operating normally on one side, while the adjacent side accelerated sharply. Students stepping onto the faster-moving escalator appeared unprepared for the sudden change, with several reacting instinctively to avoid losing balance.

Voices could be heard in the video as students shouted, “move, move, move,” while attempting to steady themselves. Some were seen gripping the handrails, while others held onto fellow students as they hurried upwards.

The footage reflected a brief but intense moment of confusion, with students visibly startled by the unexpected movement. Several appeared to stagger before regaining control, while others rushed forward to exit the escalator as quickly as possible.

At the time of writing, BRAC University had not released any official statement addressing the incident. The reason for the escalator’s sudden increase in speed had not been clarified, and it remained unclear whether the incident was linked to a mechanical fault, operational error, or maintenance-related issue.