Dhaka, Dec 26 (V7N)— The fire that broke out at the Secretariat's Building No. 7 has been completely extinguished, with significant damage reported on the eighth and ninth floors. These floors are believed to have housed important documents that may have been affected by the fire.

Brigadier General Muhammad Zahed Kamal, Director General of the Fire Service and Civil Defense Department, confirmed that the fire was fully extinguished by 11:45 am. Following this, the Crime Scene Unit of the CID entered the Secretariat for an investigation.

The fire reportedly started on the sixth floor at 1:50 am, with the Fire Service being alerted two minutes later. Their operations began promptly at 1:54 am, and the blaze was brought under control by 8:05 am.

Building No. 7 of the Secretariat houses several ministries and departments, including:

Ministry of Water Resources

Ministry of Youth and Sports

Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology

Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives

Ministry of Labor and Employment

Ministry of Finance

Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges

Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, who visited the scene, stated that it is too early to determine whether the fire was an accident or an act of sabotage. A high-powered investigation committee has been formed to probe the incident.

In a tragic turn of events, a fire service worker lost his life after being struck by a truck during firefighting efforts. Security has been heightened around the Secretariat, with police, army, and BGB personnel assisting in the aftermath of the incident.

Authorities are now focusing on assessing the damage and ensuring that critical documents and assets are preserved. The investigation will determine the cause of the fire and any potential implications for national operations housed in the Secretariat.

END/MSS/AJ