A committee formed by the government has started its inquiry to determine the cause of a fire in Building 7 of the Bangladesh Secretariat, the administrative hub of the country.
They began their investigation work in the cordoned-off building on Friday.
Along with the investigation committee, senior officials from intelligence and law enforcement agencies also conducted their inquiries.
In the morning, members of intelligence agencies entered the Secretariat premises.
The members of the eight-strong investigation committee formed by the Cabinet Division also entered.
An official responsible for security said no vehicles are being allowed to enter the Secretariat, adding that even high-ranking government officials are permitted entry only after leaving their vehicles outside the main gate.
A source from intelligence agencies said all committee members were present. "After discussing their course of action, the committee inspected the fire-damaged floors. Following the inspection, the committee members returned to the Ministry of Home Affairs for further discussions."
Additionally, to determine the cause of the fire, expert teams from the CID, RAB, and police inspected the site and attempted to collect evidence.
It is reported that a specialized team from the military was also present.
Fire Service and Civil Defence Director General Brigadier General Muhammad Jahed Kamal, who is also on the committee, told reporters while leaving the Secretariat that the investigation has begun but there is nothing substantial to disclose yet.
Ministries that suffered the most damage include the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Entry to the Secretariat was strictly restricted on Thursday.
Journalists were also denied access that day for the sake of the investigation.
The next day, law enforcement agencies imposed similar restrictions, allowing only members of the investigation, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies to enter.
From the morning, military personnel were also deployed at the Secretariat’s main gate alongside police.
Power supply to all buildings of the Secretariat had not been fully restored at the time of reporting.
The Cabinet Division formed the eight-member committee to investigate the fire incident and make recommendations regarding overall security at the Secretariat.
The committee is headed by the senior secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The committee's terms of reference include uncovering the source and cause of the fire, determining whether there was any individual or professional negligence behind the incident, and providing recommendations for the overall security of the Secretariat.
The committee was tasked with submitting a preliminary report by December 30 and a full report within the next 10 days.
Additionally, the Ministry of Local Government formed two committees to ascertain the cause and assess the damage from the fire in Building 7.
In addition, a five-member committee was formed by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to assess the damage to its resources caused by the fire.
The fire broke out in Building 7 of the Secretariat at 1:52am on Thursday.
The fire burned through the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth floors of the building.
It took 19 units of the fire service six and a half hours to bring the fire under control.
