200 rooms damaged in fire at Secretariat
Staff Reporter :
Approximately 200 rooms across four floors of the two buildings at the secretariat were damaged by the fire, according to Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, the Deputy Assistant Engineer of Public Works Department.
He shared the details with journalists on Monday after submitting the primary probe report.
Abdul Mannan mentioned that the cause of the fire would only be known after the investigation is completed.
“Whether the building can be repaired and made usable will only be understood after examinations are conducted,” said Mannan.
However, the final decision on whether repairs are feasible will be clear once the detailed report is received. If repairs are possible, the time required for the restoration work will also depend on the investigation report, he added.
Meanwhile, the government has granted permission to journalists to enter the Secretariat on Monday, five days after the fire since the building was made off limits to them following a massive fire last Thursday.
Earlier in the day, journalists gathered outside the Secretariat, expecting entry after assurances from the home affairs adviser.
However, as no permission was granted, they staged a sit-in protest in front of Gate No-1. Many expressed frustration over the delay. Journalists also can enter secretariat with temporary passes from today (Tuesday), said Nasimul Goni, Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Accordingly, journalists gathered at Gate No. 2 of the Secretariat since morning. Then a list was sent to the home ministry and everyone on the list was allowed to enter the premises around 2pm.
Upon entering, it was found that no activities were taking place in any office of Building No. 2, which was damaged in the fire. All the gates of building number 7, which was also damaged in the fire, have been closed for the sake of investigation.
The 700-foot-long building has four entry gates. In addition, there are two gates connected to other buildings, on the second and fourth floors. They were also seen closed.
The 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th floors of Building-7 were extensively damaged in the fire. These floors housed the offices of the Roads and Highways Department, Bridges Division, Local Government Division, Posts and Telecommunications Division, Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Ministry of Labour.
In addition, from the ground floor to the fifth floor, there were offices of some sections of the Ministry of Public Administration, Financial Institutions Division, and some parts of the Internal Resources Division.
Although these offices were not particularly damaged, no work is being done in these offices for the sake of security and investigation. Most of the employees have been given leave and those who came to the Secretariat are conducting activities from other departments.
Earlier, journalists who cover the Secretariat and government officials with temporary passes were barred from entering the premises yesterday, following a government decision to cancel all temporary passes and restrict access through media persons’ accreditation cards until further notice.
Besides, a high-level committee investigating the deadly fire at Secretariat will submit its primary result today to the chief adviser.
Though it was initially scheduled to file the report within Monday, but Home Ministry’s Senior Secretary Nasimul Gani informed the media about the postponement but he did not give any reason.
“Samples collected from the site will be sent abroad for tests,” he said.
Earlier on December 26, the government formed the eight-member committee headed by home ministry’s senior secretary to investigate the fire and asked it to submit its primary report within three working days.
Other members of the committee are: housing and public works ministry’s secretary, police chief, fire service chief, explosive expert from armed forces and three experts (civil, chemical and electronic engineers) Dr Tanvir Mansur, Dr Yasir Arafat and Yasir Arafat from BUET.