Fire at Secretariat

Abu Jakir and Syed Shemul Parvez :

A devastating fire broke out at the Bangladesh Secretariat late on Wednesday night, plunging one of the country’s most secure administrative hubs into chaos. The fire, which began shortly after 1 a.m. in Building No. 7, raged for over six hours before being brought under control.

The incident has not only caused significant disruptions but has also sparked widespread debate over whether it was a tragic accident or a deliberate act of sabotage.

Building No. 7 houses several critical ministries and divisions, including the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology; the Internal Resources Division of the Finance Ministry; the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives; the Ministry of Youth and Sports; and the Road Transport and Highways Division of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges.

Given its strategic importance, the fire has raised serious concerns about the security and preparedness of the Secretariat, often described as the heart of Bangladesh’s administrative machinery.

The fire has ignited a nationwide discussion, with citizens, government officials, and political leaders questioning how such a significant incident could occur at a Key Point Installation (KPI).

The scale and location of the fire have led many to suspect sabotage rather than an isolated accident. While interim government officials, including Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, have refrained from drawing conclusions before the completion of the investigation, others have openly voiced their suspicions.

Former Director General of the Fire Service, Abu Nayeem Md Shahidullah, suggested that the fire appeared targeted, affecting four specific floors that coincided with the operations of important commissions.

These commissions required access to critical documents, leading to concerns that the fire was intended to destroy sensitive information.

“If the investigation does not consider sabotage as a primary angle, it would be a mistake,” he stated, emphasising the need for thorough scrutiny.

Brigadier General (Retd.) Engineer Ali Ahmed Khan, another former Director General of the Fire Service, shared similar concerns.

He dismissed the likelihood of a short circuit causing the fire, noting that electrical malfunctions do not typically ignite multiple spots simultaneously.

“Based on my experience, this appears to be a deliberate act. Short circuits don’t behave this way,” he remarked.

The incident has become a flashpoint for political accusations. Many citizens and activists have taken to social media, alleging that the fire was orchestrated by remnants of the ousted Sheikh Hasina regime to destabilise the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus.

These allegations suggest a coordinated effort to undermine governance and create unrest.
LGRD Adviser Asif Mahmud, whose ministry operates within the affected building, expressed suspicions that the fire was intended to derail ongoing investigations into large-scale corruption.

On social media, he revealed that his ministry had uncovered embezzlement worth billions of takas, potentially making it a target.

“Those who want to fail the interim government through such destructive activities and heinous conspiracies will not be spared.

They will definitely be brought to justice,” he asserted. Prominent student activist Hasnat Abdullah criticised the interim government for being lenient towards bureaucrats, accusing them of enabling past authoritarian regimes.

He warned that such leniency could pave the way for further destabilising acts, urging the government to take decisive action against those involved.

Commenting on the incident, Dhaka University criminology expert Mrs Sahariar Afrin described the event as “totally unexpected” and urged the government to modernise fire safety systems.

“We must replace outdated equipment and establish a skilled commission to address these challenges effectively,” she stated.

The firefighting operation faced numerous challenges. Initially, eight units of the Fire Service were dispatched, but the response was later scaled up to 19 units.

However, only ten units could actively work due to space constraints at the site.

The fire spread from the sixth to the ninth floors, with locked rooms and extensive electrical wiring further complicating efforts.

Brigadier General Md Main Uddin, Director General of the Fire Service, acknowledged the difficulties but emphasised that there was no shortage of water during the operation. Firefighters worked tirelessly to prevent the blaze from spreading below the sixth floor.

Tragically, the operation claimed the life of firefighter Sohanur Zaman Nayan, who was struck by a speeding truck while connecting a water pump to a hose.

Despite being rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. Nayan, a resident of Mithapukur in Rangpur, had joined the Fire Service in 2022.

Authorities have formed a high-powered investigation committee to determine the cause of the fire. Interior Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury visited the site and assured the public that the investigation would reveal whether the fire was accidental or a deliberate act of sabotage.