The Secretariat fire shows how susceptible we are to conspiracy theories
As the country struggles with its political future, one thing is clear: The tendency to see conspiracies in every shadow is both a symptom and a cause of the instability that torments the nation
Bangladesh had been a land of whispers, rumours, and hidden truths during the 16-year autocratic regime under Sheikh Hasina. But in the last few months, as the country began healing from a political uprising, it seems conspiracy theories have taken on a new life.
Every event, from political developments to accidents, is now surrounded by doubt and speculation. A prominent example of this was the recent fire at the Bangladesh Secretariat, which quickly became the subject of widespread conspiracy theories. Even the official statements from the interim government failed to make many believe otherwise.
In the early hours of 26 December, a fire erupted in Building 7 of the Secretariat, damaging several floors. The flames burned critical government offices, including the road transport and highways division, the posts and telecommunications division, and the local government division.
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It took 19 firefighting units nearly 10 hours to fully extinguish the fire, during which a firefighter tragically lost his life. The circumstances surrounding his death, as he was hit and run by a truck, also raised a lot of eyebrows.
As soon as news of the fire spread, numerous conspiracy theories about its cause quickly followed. It was not just ordinary social media users; even some government advisers and student leaders joined the fray, questioning whether the fire was an act of sabotage.
Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan hinted at the sinister possibility through his social media post, where he stated, "We had been working on cases of corruption in the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives. Evidence of the theft of several thousand crore takas was uncovered."
Sarjis Alam, general secretary of the July Shaheed Smriti Foundation, took to social media to express his suspicions, writing, "Loyalists of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, within the Secretariat, ignited the fire to destroy incriminating records of theft, embezzlement, and corruption."
He also added that, ''Over the past 16 years, a significant portion of bureaucrats were among the key stakeholders in the syndicate supporting the Awami League."
Senior chief petty officer Mohammad Aminul Islam of the Bangladesh Navy added fuel to the fire of speculation, stating, "It is not due to a short circuit; the fire may have been set deliberately. Our team worked here, and it feels like it was deliberately started at multiple spots. Typically, a short circuit originates from a single spot, but in this case, it appears to have occurred in several places."
However, Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, home affairs adviser, offered a more cautious stance, suggesting that the cause of the fire could only be determined after a detailed investigation.
Ultimately, the government asserted that it was satisfied with the results of the preliminary investigation, which concluded that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.
Environmental Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan stated, "Evidence is being sent abroad for testing to eliminate all forms of doubt. We want to ensure clarity in the interest of our security."
"We are free to make our own assumptions and speculations. One of the main reasons behind our tendency to distrust government statements is the past practices of political parties blaming each other for any incidents. This has made us more prone to conspiracy theories."
However, the reassurance has done little to quiet the scepticism. For many, the timing and nature of the fire are too coincidental to dismiss.
This reflects how deeply rooted the tendency to believe conspiracy theories has become in Bangladesh, where people often dispel official narratives, seeking hidden agendas or backstories behind every incident.
Experts argue that such proliferation of conspiracy theories is symptomatic of deeper societal issues.
Currently, Bangladesh is in a period where people see conspiracies everywhere. Maybe it is a result of years of mistrust in institutions and governance. Events like the Secretariat fire only exacerbate this tendency.
Dr Md Kamal Uddin, a professor of Psychology at Dhaka University, speaks about this critical societal behaviour in Bangladesh.
"We are free to make our own assumptions and speculations. One of the main reasons behind our tendency to distrust government statements is the past practices of political parties blaming each other for any incidents. This has made us more prone to conspiracy theories," he said.
Adding to this Dr Manosh Chowdhury, professor of Anthropology at Jahangirnagar University, notes that, "Government officials often prioritise rhetoric and grandiose promises over pragmatic solutions to address public concerns."
He highlights that such practices create fertile ground for conspiracy theories to flourish, as people increasingly question the credibility of official narratives and seek alternative explanations.
Dr Chowdhury, however, also stressed the fact that reducing any deduction as a conspiracy theory is a trait in the modern states, adopted as a counter-strategy. "I find many reasons why public perceptions have more merits than the government version," he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Kamal Uddin further points out that, "It's not always that the conspiracies are true. We should have faith in the investigation too, and the government should make these investigations more transparent."
He also urged citizens to unite and focus on supporting the broader development goals of the nation, asserting that this unity is vital for Bangladesh's progress and to tackle this deep-seated scepticism.
As the country struggles with its political future, one thing is clear, the tendency to see conspiracies in every shadow is both a symptom and a cause of the instability that torments the nation.
