Fire destroys records going back 200 years in Jashore Registry Office
The blaze started around 9pm in the old office building and within an hour, historical documents dating back to the British era were reduced to ashes.
A mysterious fire broke out at the old building of the Jashore Registry Office last night (1 January) destroying centuries-old documents, including volume books, balam registers, index books, and other important records.
The blaze started around 9pm in the old office building. Within an hour, historical documents dating back to the British era were reduced to ashes.
Senior Station Officer Firoz Ahmed of the Jashore Fire Service and Civil Defence said that upon receiving information about the fire, two fire service units rushed to the scene. The gate of the old building was locked, and no staff were present inside while the fire was burning inside. Firefighters broke the lock, entered the building, and managed to bring the blaze under control after about 20 minutes of effort.
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He added that old papers and documents stored in two rooms of the building were burnt. The extent of the damage, however, can only be determined after an investigation.
When asked how a fire could break out in a locked room with no electricity, the fire service official declined to comment.
Meanwhile, a source at the registry office said the incident was suspicious, noting that there was no electrical connection in the building, ruling out the possibility of an electrical short circuit. The source suggested that the fire may have been deliberately set inside the building.
The source further said the behaviour of three night guards—identified as Hira, Saiful and Milon—was suspicious, adding that a proper investigation by the police could uncover the truth.
Shamsuzzaman Milan, former officer of the Jashore Sub-Registry Office, said the building stored critical documents from 1741 to 1940, covering Jashore and surrounding areas. He noted that the building was rarely opened, and most documents have now been completely destroyed, with the remainder damaged by water.
Sohrab Hossain, president of the Jashore Document Writers' Association, also visited the site. He said the night guard, named Hira, was not present when the fire broke out. Local shopkeepers described the incident as mysterious, noting that there was no electrical connection in the building, ruling out short circuits as the cause. They suspect the fire may have been set deliberately.
