Home ministry moves to boost fire safety in Secretariat amid spike in blaze incidents
In a related move, the Public Works Department (PWD) issued a separate notice on 19 October, calling for the immediate removal of furniture and abandoned materials left in corridors, lift lobbies, staircases, and rooftops of Secretariat buildings to prevent obstruction during emergencies and reduce fire risks.
Highlights:
- Regular electrical connection checks by certified engineers
- Inspect and fix faults in server rooms
- Turn off all switches after office hours
- Weekend stays for work need home ministry approval
- Maintain water reserves, keep lines active
Amid a recent rise in fire incidents at key establishments across the country, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a five-point directive to enhance fire safety measures at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
In a letter sent to various ministries yesterday (20 October), the ministry said that "in recent times, fire incidents have occurred at important establishments across the country."
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It said that, given the Secretariat's status as the administrative nerve centre of the country, it is "imperative to ensure round-the-clock safety and security of several buildings inside the complex."
To strengthen fire safety, the home ministry instructed all ministries and departments to have their electrical connections regularly inspected by qualified engineers or electricians.
It also directed urgent inspections of all server rooms to identify and fix any electrical faults, and to ensure that all electrical switches are turned off after office hours.
The letter further stated that prior approval from the home ministry will be required for anyone staying inside the Secretariat on weekends for official purposes.
As part of fire prevention preparedness, ministries have also been instructed to maintain adequate water reserves and keep water lines active to ensure uninterrupted supply in case of emergency.
In a related move, the Public Works Department (PWD) issued a separate notice on 19 October, calling for the immediate removal of furniture and abandoned materials left in corridors, lift lobbies, staircases, and rooftops of Secretariat buildings to prevent obstruction during emergencies and reduce fire risks.
"With the recent increase in the incidents of fires across the country, furniture and abandoned goods left in corridors, elevator lobbies and staircases are causing deep concern in preventing fire accidents," the letter said.
Earlier on 26 December 2024, a major fire broke out at the Bangladesh Secretariat. The blaze severely damaged several floors of Building 7.
According to Fire service, 19 units took around six hours to bring the flames under control and about 10 hours to completely extinguish them.
