The government has formed a seven-member committee to investigate the fire that engulfed several floors of Building No. 7 at the Secretariat in Dhaka today (26 December). 

The committee has been instructed to submit its findings within seven days.

Additional Secretary Mohammad Khaled Rahim of the Cabinet Division was appointed as the committee head, according to an office order issued by the Cabinet Division this afternoon.

The committee's members include representatives from the Public Security Division, the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, the Local Government Division, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), the Fire Service and Civil Defence, and the Housing and Public Works Ministry. 

As per the order, all representatives must hold the rank of joint secretary or higher.

The committee is tasked with identifying the origins and causes of the fire and determining whether any individual had personal or professional involvement in the incident. 

Besides, it will provide recommendations to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The order also allows the committee to include additional members if necessary.

Earlier in the day, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury had informed reporters about the formation of a high-powered committee to investigate the fire.

The fire broke out on the sixth floor of Secretariat building number 7 at 1:50 am. The Fire Service received the report at 1:52 am and began their operation at 1:54 am. The fire was fully brought under control by 8:05 am.

The fire claimed the life of a firefighter, Sohanur Zaman Nayan, who was fatally struck by a truck while crossing the road to connect a water pipe during the operation. 

Building No 7 houses the ministries of finance, LGRD and cooperatives, youth and sports, post, telecommunication and information technology, labour and employment, and road transport and bridges, and different departments and divisions under them.

BDST: 1353 HRS, DEC 26, 2024
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