The government has established a seven-member investigation committee to probe the recent fire incident in Building 2 of the Bangladesh Secretariat. The Cabinet Division issued an official order on Thursday outlining the formation of the committee and its responsibilities.

According to the notification, Mohammad Khaled Rahim, Additional Secretary (District and Field Administration) of the Cabinet Division, has been appointed as the convener of the committee. The member secretary will be a representative from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, with a rank not below that of Joint Secretary. Other members include representatives from the Public Security Division, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, the Local Government Division (all with a rank not below Joint Secretary), the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and the Fire Service and Civil Defence Department.

The committee's mandate is to investigate the origin and cause of the fire, determine whether any individual or group bears personal or professional responsibility for the incident, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. The order specifies that the committee can co-opt additional members if deemed necessary to assist in their investigation.

The directive requires the committee to submit its report within seven working days.

The fire broke out in the Secretariat’s Building 2 early on Wednesday at approximately 1:52 AM. The Fire Service received the alert shortly thereafter and dispatched eight units to the scene within two minutes. Over time, the response escalated, and a total of 19 units were deployed to combat the blaze.

The fire was brought under control by 8:05 AM, with complete extinguishment achieved around 11:45 AM. No major casualties were reported; however, significant damage to documents, equipment, and the building itself was noted.

Authorities have urged patience as they await the findings of the investigation, which aims to provide clarity on the circumstances surrounding the incident and measures to enhance fire safety in government facilities.