A massive fire broke out at the Bangladesh Secretariat, the country’s administrative hub, during the early hours of Wednesday. The fire erupted in Building No. 7 of the Secretariat, prompting a large-scale emergency response. The Fire Service and Civil Defence were alerted to the incident at 1:52 AM and immediately dispatched units to the scene.

Rafi Al Faruq, Duty Officer at the Fire Service Control Room, confirmed the incident. According to him, the fire appears to be significant, with flames engulfing a substantial part of the building. “Eighteen firefighting units are currently working to bring the blaze under control,” he said. The cause of the fire and the extent of damage remain unknown at this stage, and further information will be available after the fire has been completely extinguished.

Talha Bin Jasim, another senior officer from the Fire Service, stated that initial efforts to control the flames were undertaken by the Secretariat's own firefighting team. However, as the fire’s intensity grew, reinforcements were called in. The 18 units now deployed include teams from various parts of Dhaka city, working tirelessly to manage the situation.

In response to the escalating situation, two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed to secure the area. BGB’s Public Relations Officer, Shariful Islam, confirmed their presence at the site. Their primary role is to maintain order and assist in ensuring the safety of critical infrastructure within the Secretariat premises.

As of now, there have been no reports of casualties. The immediate focus remains on controlling the fire and preventing it from spreading to adjoining buildings. Officials are also working to assess the risks posed to important documents and equipment stored in the affected building.

The Secretariat is a high-security zone and serves as the workplace for key government officials and ministries. The incident has raised concerns about the adequacy of fire prevention measures in such a vital facility. Authorities have promised a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire and to evaluate the damages incurred.

Further updates will follow as the situation unfolds.