Dhaka, Dec 26 (V7N) — A high-level committee has been constituted to investigate the cause and source of the devastating fire at the Secretariat, which resulted in the loss of crucial state documents. The committee has been directed to submit a preliminary report within the next three days.

The announcement was made by Syeda Rizwana Hassan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, during a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy on Thursday evening.

The seven-member investigative committee, formed by the Cabinet Division, will be chaired by the Senior Secretary of the Home Ministry. Its members include the Secretary of Housing and Public Works, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence (acting as Member Secretary), an explosives expert from the armed forces, and three experts from BUET specializing in civil, chemical, and electronic engineering.

"The government is taking this incident very seriously," said Rizwana Hassan. "Many critical state documents, including investigation files related to money laundering, have been destroyed. We aim to ensure a fair and detailed investigation into the incident."

The advisor added that the government would share the full investigation report with the media once completed, while the preliminary findings will remain confidential for now.

During the press conference, Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan confirmed that documents from five ministries were lost in the fire, which has raised concerns over security measures at the Secretariat.

"The committee will explore whether this was due to a security lapse or other factors," Rizwana Hassan stated. "No one will be exempted if found guilty, regardless of their position or affiliation."

Home Affairs Advisor Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, along with other officials, echoed the urgency of the investigation, stressing that measures must be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

The Secretariat fire, which broke out earlier on Thursday, has left an indelible mark on the administration, and the government is determined to uncover the truth and implement necessary reforms.

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