Dhaka, Dec 26 (V7N) — BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has expressed deep concern over the devastating fire that broke out at Bangladesh's Secretariat, the administrative hub of the country. In a statement on Thursday, he demanded a fair investigation to identify and punish those responsible for the incident.

The fire, which started in Secretariat Building No. 7 at around 1:45 am on Wednesday, claimed the life of a firefighter and injured at least two others. It took 19 fire service units over six hours to bring the blaze under control and 10 hours to completely extinguish it. The incident caused extensive damage, with numerous critical documents reportedly destroyed. Two investigation committees have already been formed to look into the matter.

Mirza Fakhrul expressed condolences for the deceased firefighter and sympathised with the injured and their families. He described the fire as a "terrible incident" in a "sensitive building" like the Secretariat and criticised the government's handling of security at such a crucial location.

"The terrible fire in the Secretariat caused extensive damage as important documents were burnt to ashes," Mirza Fakhrul said. "It is not unusual for the current interim government to find itself in an embarrassing situation due to such fires."

He urged the authorities to ensure a transparent and thorough investigation into the fire to identify the real culprits and bring them to justice. He also called for adequate compensation for the families of the deceased and injured.

The fire service began efforts to douse the fire shortly after it started, but the intensity of the blaze required additional units. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are still under investigation.

This incident has raised questions about the safety measures in place at one of the country's most important administrative buildings.

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