The fire at the Bangladesh Secretariat, the country’s administrative nerve centre and a Key Point Installation (KPI) area, has raised serious concerns among political leaders, administrative officials and people from various professions, many of whom suspect it was a planned act.
The late night blaze, which broke out on Wednesday (Dec 25) in the Secretariat’s Building No. 7, has left the nation, including the government’s high-ranking officials, deeply worried.
The fire destroyed vital documents of five key ministries and prompted questions about whether this was an accident or a deliberate act of sabotage.
Suspicions of Sabotage
Witnesses and officials working in the Secretariat expressed doubts about the nature of the fire.
Witnesses said that the fire started simultaneously in two separate locations, further fuelling suspicion.
Many questioned how such an incident could occur in an area with strict security measures, including numerous security guards and personnel from intelligence agencies.
Former officials and fire experts also raised questions.
Brigadier General (retd) Ali Ahmed Khan, a former Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence, told UNB, “This is not a simple accident. Fires like this are rarely accidental. The way the fire spread simultaneously in multiple places indicates deliberate arson.”
He pointed out that, as a KPI area, the Secretariat is under constant surveillance. “There were over 100 security personnel inside and outside. How could no one notice the fire at its early stages? This raises serious doubts,” he added.
Brigadier General (retd) Abu Nayeem Md Shahidullah echoed these concerns, calling the incident a “clear case of sabotage” and suggesting the fire was intended to destroy important documents needed for ongoing investigations.
Concerns About Security and Firefighting
Major (retd) AKM Shakil Nawaz, a former Director of Operations at Fire Service and Civil Defence, criticised the delay in extinguishing the fire, which took over ten hours.
He said, “This is unbelievable for a KPI area. Fires caused by accidents usually occur in one place, not three simultaneously.”
Fire Service officials admitted that they faced challenges entering the Secretariat premises due to the size of their vehicles.
Read: Secretariat fire: Administrative Service Association demands punishment for perpetrators
Brigadier General Muhammad Zahid Kamal, the current Director General of Fire Service, explained, “We had to break gates to allow larger vehicles inside. Despite deploying 20 units, the fire engulfed four floors entirely."
Impact on Ministries and Investigations
The affected floors housed critical departments, including the Youth and Sports Ministry, the Labour and Employment Ministry, the Local Government Division, and the Road Transport and Highways Division. The destruction of important files has sparked fears of setbacks in administrative and legal processes.
In response, several committees have been formed to investigate the fire. An internal committee by the Fire Service, a government-formed high-level investigation team, and additional committees within individual ministries will submit reports within a few days.
Political Reactions
The fire occurred amid ongoing unrest within the administration, including demands for the resignation of the Chairman of the Public Administration Reform Commission. Some political leaders and activists have linked the incident to broader conspiracies.
BNP leaders, including Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, expressed doubts about the timing of the fire. “This fire, destroying vital documents, comes after demands for critical files. People have serious questions about this incident,” said Rizvi.
BNP Secretary General
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called for a thorough investigation to identify those responsible. “This tragic incident, which has resulted in the loss of key documents, is deeply concerning,” he said.
Government Response
The interim government has assured people that the incident will be investigated thoroughly.
Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan described the fire as a “planned conspiracy” and vowed to hold those responsible accountable.
Read more: Secretariat Fire: 2 committees to assess damages to Labour Ministry documents, assets
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that CCTV footage from all affected offices is being analysed.
A high-level committee, chaired by the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs and including experts from the military, police, and academia, will submit a preliminary report within three days.
Public Outrage and Social Media Reaction
The incident has ignited widespread discussions on social media, with many expressing doubts about the official narrative.
Some have criticised the government’s preparedness, while others questioned how such a devastating fire could occur in a highly secure area.
Next Steps
As investigations progress, the public and political figures await answers to the many questions raised by the incident.
The committees’ findings will likely determine whether the fire was a tragic accident or part of a more sinister plot.
Read more: Initial report on secretariat fire to be submitted in 3 days: Rizwana
The fire serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities within even the most secure establishments and the need for heightened vigilance in critical times, experts said.