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.