Summary:
- A massive fire broke out at Bangladesh Secretariat’s Building No. 7 at 1:52 AM on December 26, affecting four floors (6th to 9th) that house multiple crucial government ministries.
- Over 200 firefighters with 19 units battled the blaze for six hours, finally bringing it under control at 8:05 AM, with no reported casualties but significant damage to important documents.
- A seven-member investigation committee, headed by Additional Secretary Mohammad Khaled Rahim, has been formed with representatives from various government bodies to submit findings within seven days.
- The affected building houses vital ministries including finance, LGRD, youth and sports, telecommunications, labor and employment, and road transport, causing significant disruption to government operations.
A devastating fire engulfed multiple floors of Building No. 7 at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka early Wednesday, prompting the government to form a high-powered investigation committee to probe the incident.
The blaze, which broke out around 1:52 AM on December 26, caused extensive damage to the 8th and 9th floors of the building, requiring nearly six hours of firefighting efforts before being brought under control. The affected building houses several crucial government ministries, including finance, LGRD and cooperatives, youth and sports, post, telecommunication and information technology, labor and employment, and road transport and bridges.
Fire Service Director General Brigadier General Muhammad Jahed Kamal reported that more than 200 firefighters worked tirelessly to combat the flames that spread across four floors – from the sixth to the ninth floor. The fire service deployed 19 units to the scene, successfully bringing the situation under control by 8:05 AM.
In response to the incident, the Cabinet Division has established a seven-member investigation committee headed by Additional Secretary Mohammad Khaled Rahim. The committee includes representatives from various government bodies, including the Public Security Division, disaster management and relief ministry, Local Government Division, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Fire Service and Civil Defence, and housing and public works ministry.
“Accidents can happen anywhere. I cannot comment without an investigation,” stated Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury when questioned about potential sabotage in the highly secured area.
The committee has been given a seven-day deadline to submit their findings, with a mandate to investigate the fire’s source, determine potential personal or professional involvement, and provide recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future. While no casualties have been reported, officials indicate that numerous important documents across multiple ministries may have been destroyed in the fire.
The incident has significantly disrupted regular activities at the Secretariat, with many officials forced to return home as operations were paralyzed due to the extensive damage and ongoing investigation.
