The Cabinet Division has formed a seven-member investigation committee into the fire incident in Building No. 7 of the Bangladesh Secretariat.
An office order in this regard was issued by the Cabinet Division on Thursday (December 26).
Cabinet Division Additional Secretary (District and Field Administration) Mohammad Khaled Rahim has been made the convener of the committee. The member-secretary of this committee will be a representative of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works (not below the rank of Joint Secretary).
The members will be - a representative of the Public Safety Department (not below the rank of Joint Secretary), a representative of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (not below the rank of Joint Secretary), a representative of the Local Government Department (not below the rank of Joint Secretary), a representative of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police and a representative of the Fire Service and Civil Defense Department.
The committee's terms of reference state that it will investigate the source and cause of the fire, determine whether anyone is personally or professionally responsible for the fire accident, and submit recommendations to prevent such accidents.
The committee can co-opt one or more members if necessary. It also states that the committee will submit a report within the next 7 (seven) working days.
Earlier, Talha Bin Jasim, an officer of the media cell of the Fire Service Headquarters, confirmed that the fire at the Secretariat was completely extinguished at 11:45 am on Thursday (December 26).
The fire broke out at 1:52 am on Wednesday (December 25) in Building No. 7 of the Secretariat located in Segunbagicha in the capital. Fire Service sources said that after receiving the news of the fire, Fire Service personnel went to the scene and started extinguishing the fire at 1:54 am. Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, RAB, Ansar and other voluntary organizations joined the rescue operation. After about 6 and a half hours of effort, the fire was brought under control at around 9:15 am on Thursday.
Meanwhile, a member of the Fire Service was killed when a truck ran over him while he was trying to put out the fire. His name is Sohanuzzaman Nayon. Fire Service Director General (DG) Brigadier General Zahed Kamal gave this information at a briefing at the scene around 6:45 am today.