The fire at the Bangladesh Secretariat has been brought under control, but its aftermath has left the country’s administrative hub without power, halting all official activities. Although one gate of the Secretariat has been opened to allow entry for staff members, no administrative work is being conducted due to the power outage. Employees were seen sitting or standing idly, with most offices still locked by late Thursday morning.

Despite the partial operation of some generators, the majority of the Secretariat remains without electricity. According to officials, while employees are permitted to enter the premises, access to individual offices is restricted.

The fire broke out in Building 7 of the Secretariat on Wednesday, December 25, at approximately 1:52 AM. The Fire Service received the alert and deployed 19 units to the scene. By 8:05 AM on Thursday, the fire was brought under control, but not before causing significant disruption.

At a press briefing outside the Secretariat at 9:00 AM, Home Affairs Advisor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced that a committee would be formed to investigate the incident. Meanwhile, Brigadier General Muhammad Zahid Kamal, Director General of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Department, provided further details during the briefing. He confirmed that the fire started in Building 7, housing key government divisions such as the Internal Resources Division, Financial Institutions Division, Posts and Telecommunications, Information Technology, Labor and Employment, Youth and Sports, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, and the Roads and Highways Division.

Zahid Kamal explained that the Fire Service received the first alert at 1:52 AM and reached the site within two minutes. However, challenges arose due to the limited accessibility for large fire trucks. Of the 19 units deployed, 10 were actively involved in firefighting efforts. Despite their swift response, the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined, pending an official investigation.

Tragedy struck during the operation as a firefighter, who was connecting a hose to a water pump, was fatally injured by a speeding truck while crossing the road. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The disruption has impacted several important government departments located in Building 7. Efforts are underway to restore power and assess the extent of the damage. The investigation committee is expected to provide clarity on the cause of the fire and recommend measures to prevent such incidents in the future.