United News of Bangladesh

The investigation committee, formed by the government, has said that the devastating fire at the Bangladesh Secretariat on December 25 was caused by an electrical loose connection, ruling out any evidence of sabotage. The preliminary report was disclosed during a press briefing on Tuesday evening at the State Guest House Jamuna. The fire engulfed four floors of Building No 7, housing offices of five ministries. It began just before 2:00 am and took the Fire Service six hours to bring under control, with total extinguishment requiring nearly 10 hours. Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Gani said the committee found no indication of individual involvement in the fire, and attributed the incident to faulty electrical wiring, mentioning the absence of any foul play. Dr Maksud Helali, a professor from BUET and a member of the investigation committee, revealed that the preliminary findings have been submitted to the Chief Adviser. "Though the fire appeared to originate from multiple spots, it was actually interconnected through internal pathways," Dr Helali explained. The inability to extinguish the fire on the sixth floor before addressing the blaze on the seventh floor exacerbated the situation, he added. Brigadier General Mahbubur Rasel, an explosives expert with the Bangladesh Army, said that tests, including those conducted by a dog squad, found no traces of explosive substances. Director General of Fire Service Brigadier General Muhammad Zahed Kamal pointed out that the presence of combustible interior design materials had caused the fire to spread rapidly. Read: Secretariat fire probe committee now to submit report Tuesday He also mentioned inadequacies in the building's fire suppression systems, highlighting the need for improvements. The fire, which caused extensive damage, broke out in the early hours of Wednesday. It required the efforts of multiple fire service units to contain. The blaze not only destroyed infrastructure but also severely impacted crucial government offices. In response to the incident, the Cabinet Division formed an eight-member high-level investigation committee to examine the cause and implications of the fire. The findings of the investigation underline the importance of stringent electrical maintenance and robust fire safety measures in government buildings. Authorities have been urged to implement comprehensive upgrades to prevent such incidents in the future. Read more: Fire-ravaged secretariat building can be repaired: Public Works Official The Secretariat fire serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in essential infrastructure, calling for immediate and sustained action to safeguard critical facilities.

Activities of six ministries including the Finance Ministry have been going on temporarily at several government establishments in Dhaka following the massive fire at the Secretariat. The activities of the ministries of Road, Transport and Bridges, Post and Telecommunication, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperative are going on at Railway Bhaban on Abdul Gani Road, GPO Bhaban, South City Corporation Bhaban in Phulbaria respectively, said sources at the ministries. Moreover, the ministries of Youth and Sports, Labour and Employment and Finance are carrying out their activities at National Sports Council, Labour Bhaban and Finance Adviser’s office respectively. The Building No-7 of the Secretariat  caught fire on December 26 and offices, equipment, files, documents and furniture were badly damaged. Read: Secretariat fire sabotage or accident still not known: Fire service DG The fire destroyed vital documents of five key ministries. Two committees were formed to assess the damages to the Labour and Employment Ministry’s documents . One of the probe bodies is scheduled to submit an initial report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus today (Monday).

General Secretary of the July Shaheed Smriti Foundation Sarjis Alam, who played a central role in the July-August movement that toppled the previous government, has said that Thursday's Secretariat fire was a planned, premeditated conspiracy. “The nature and location of the fire indicate it was neither accidental nor natural. It was a deliberate act of sabotage," he said while speaking at an event in Panchagarh. He called for a thorough investigation into the incident and urged the interim government to take a more revolutionary stance. He claimed the fire targeted the student representatives in the interim government, including Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, whose offices were reportedly destroyed. "These students have been at the forefront of the uprising, safeguarding files related to corruption and irregularities committed during the tenure of Sheikh Hasina. The timing of the fire raises serious questions," he added. Secretariat Fire: 2 committees to assess damages to Labour Ministry documents, assets He said that the interim government must ensure such incidents are not repeated and those responsible face accountability. He also warned of future conspiracies, urging unity to prevent a return of oppressive forces. "If this uprising had not succeeded, many of us would have been jailed. We must remain vigilant and hold the spirit of this revolution," he said.

Two committees have been formed to assess the damages to the Labour and Employment Ministry’s documents in the Secretariat fire incident. A committee will assess the damages to the ministry's documents and important records, while another will determine the extent of damage to the ministry's assets. Labor and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (rtd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain on Thursday directed the formation of the two committees while visiting building 7 of the Secretariat, said a PID handout. Following his directive, the ministry formed the two five-member committees, making its two joint secretaries as the conveners of the two bodies. The committee headed by joint secretary Morsheda Aktar will assess the document and record-related damages, while the committee headed by joint secretary Abdus Samad Al Azad will estimate the asset-related damages. Committee formed to probe Secretariat fire The Labor and Employment Adviser asked the two bodies to submit their reporters within the next seven working days. A fire broke out at the 7th building of the Bangladesh Secretariat at approximately 1:50 am on Thursday.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Thursday said the high-profile probe committee formed by the government to investigate the Secretariat fire incident would submit its primary report within the next three days. "We want a thorough and extensive investigation. The government is giving the highest importance to the matter," she said while briefing reporters at Foreign Service Academy in the evening. Committee formed to probe Secretariat fire She said an emergency meeting was held with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in the chair where the decision was taken. The Adviser said they need to wait until the probe committee's report is received to answer all the questions that they hear around. She said the media will get a copy of the probe report on completion of the full-fledged investigation. Fire at Secretariat a ‘conspiracy’: Mostafa Jamal Rizwana said the senior secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs will lead the high-powered seven-member investigation committee. Other members of the committee are - secretary of the Housing and Public Works Ministry, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), chief of Fire Service and Civil Defense (member secretary), explosive expert from the Armed Forces, and three experts (civil, chemical and electronic engineers) Dr Tanvir Mansur, Dr Yasir Arafat and Yasir Arafat from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Cause of secretariat fire still unknown: Fire Service DG Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud also spoke at the briefing. Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was also present.