Fire at Bangladesh Secretariat's Building No. 7 Disrupts Operations, Claims Firefighter's Life; 7-Member Committee Formed

Dec 26, 2024, 04:47 AM

A devastating fire broke out in Building No. 7 of the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka early Thursday, disrupting regular operations and causing significant damage. The fire, which started around 1:52 a.m., spread across the sixth to ninth floors, affecting offices of several ministries including Youth and Sports, Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Labour and Employment, and part of the Finance Ministry. It took over six hours for 19 firefighting units to bring the blaze under control, with the fire being completely doused after 10 hours. Tragically, firefighter Sohanuzzaman Nayan died after being struck by a truck while responding to the incident. Following the fire, a seven-member high-powered committee has been formed to investigate the cause and assess the damage, with a report expected within seven working days. The Secretariat's regular activities have come to a standstill, with most officials and employees vacating the premises and only one gate open for exit. The government has deployed additional security forces to maintain order around the Secretariat area.