CA seeks probe body's recommendation to prevent fire incident

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has directed the high-level body, which was formed to probe the Bangla Secretariat fire, to submit its recommendations within the next 10 days aiming to prevent fires in key installations like the Bangladesh Secretariat in the future.

The probe committee submitted its initial report to the chief adviser today at the State Guest House Jamuna here where he directed the members of the committee to provide necessary recommendations on long-term fire prevention.

Speaking at a media briefing in front of Jamuna this evening after submitting the probe report, former BUET professor Dr Maksud Helali, a member of the probe body, said the chief adviser sought recommendations on what the government can do in the long-term to prevent fires.

 "We will present the necessary recommendations within 10 days," he said.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the chief adviser listened carefully to the preliminary report of the investigation committee and sought long-term recommendations from them so that the government can take all possible measures to prevent such fires at the secretariat in the future.

Alam said the chief adviser mentioned that the experts told him that they would present their recommendations in the final report.

On December 26, 2024, the government formed the eight-member body to investigate the Secretariat fire and asked it to submit its primary report within three days.

Senior Home Secretary Nasimul Gani was made the chief of the probe body.

Nasimul Gani told a media briefing that the fire originated from a loose connection of an electrical wire while no sabotage was found behind the inferno.

Prof Helali said their report has 99 percent similarities with the report of CID and other video footages.

The fire originated and spread in this way. Initially, the fire was seen on the north side of the secretariat. It was not seen on the south side where we see the secretariat from outside," he said.

Explosives expert of Bangladesh Army Brigadier General Mahbubur Russell, a member of the probe committee, said they collected samples from three places and the Fire Service provided a sample.

He said they examined those to know whether any type of explosive was used to set the fire here. "We tested the samples and found no evidence of explosive use," he added.

About the loss in the fire, Nasimul Gani said it was not possible to assess the full loss and damage in the fire since the crime scene was closed and access was restricted. 

"Six ministries are working there. They have been asked to prepare a list of the damages. A public works team is also working. This (loss and damage) will be mentioned in the final report," he added.