Loose electrical connection led to Secretariat fire, no sign of any sabotage: Probe committee
In its primary investigation, it also did not find any indication of sabotage, said chief of the probe committee Senior Home Affairs Secretary Nasimul Gani at a press briefing held at the Chief Adviser’s residence
It was a loose electrical connection which led to the Secretariat fire, the investigation committee tasked with probing the incident has found.
In its primary investigation, it also did not find any indication of sabotage, said chief of the probe committee Senior Home Affairs Secretary Nasimul Gani at a press briefing held at the chief adviser's residence.
Dr Maksud Helali, a professor from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and a member of the investigation committee, revealed that the preliminary findings have been submitted to the chief adviser.
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"We have prepared a detailed report, but further tests and analysis are underway to enhance the findings," he said.
Helali explained that the fire started gradually in one spot and spread in two directions due to the wind, becoming uncontrollable within 12 to 14 minutes.
"Firefighters first contained the sixth-floor blaze before moving to the seventh-floor, with the flames visible from outside about 90 minutes after the outbreak," he added.
Brigadier General Mahbubur Rasel, an explosives expert with the Bangladesh Army, said that tests, including those conducted by a dog squad, found no traces of explosive substances.
Director General of Fire Service Brigadier General Muhammad Zahed Kamal pointed out that the presence of combustible interior design materials had caused the fire to spread rapidly.
He also mentioned inadequacies in the building's fire suppression systems, highlighting the need for improvements.
The investigation committee highlighted that the extent of the damage has not yet been determined. From tomorrow, six ministries will conduct audits to assess the losses. However, important documents remain safe as they were not located in the affected areas.
The committee also recommended regular maintenance and effective fire safety systems to prevent such incidents in the future.
Chief Adviser Yunus directed the inclusion of these recommendations in the final report, which is expected to be submitted within the next 10 working days.
The preliminary report will undergo further analysis and testing before it is finalised.
The fire broke out at 1:52am on 26 December at the secretariat's building 7, severely damaging floors six, seven, eight and nine and sparking widespread speculation about its origin.
It took 19 firefighting units around six hours to bring the flames under control and 10 hours to completely douse them.
The seventh and eighth floors of Building-7 at the secretariat, which accommodate the Ministries of Road Transport and Bridges, Post and Telecommunications, and Youth and Sports, were severely damaged in the fire, according to officials.
They said this floor experienced the most intense fire, resulting in the destruction of office documents, furniture, and equipment. The fire also damaged the power and internet systems.
Officials from the ministries and the fire service are jointly assessing the extent of the losses.
While no casualties were reported from the fire itself, Shoyanur Jaman Noyon, 24, a firefighter from Tejgaon fire station was killed while on duty.
He was crossing the road to connect the water pipe with the pump when a truck ran over him.
Later, the government formed a eight-member committee to investigate the fire.
