Secretariat fire: Renovation to take at least 15 more days

Although building no 7 of the Bangladesh Secretariat has been reopened 11 days after the fire incident, it will take at least 15 more days to renovate the building.

The building was reopened on Sunday (January 5) morning. It is learned that after the reopening, those who have received permission from the Home Ministry can enter the up to the fifth floor of the nine-story building.

However, no one is being allowed to enter the sixth to ninth floors.

Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Md. Hamidur Rahman Khan told reporters present there that it will take at least 15 days to complete the renovation work of the four damaged floors--sixth to ninth floors. However, the authorities are trying to complete the work quickly.

Ministry sources said that even though the building has been reopened, the elevators are closed. Also, water supply to the building has not been possible yet. Internet and telephone connections have not been established there yet.

It can be seen on the ground that the workers of various sections of the Public Works Department are busy with renovation work in front of the building. Cleaning work of the building is also being done. Talking to them, it was learned that they have been instructed to complete all the renovation work within the next 10-12 days. However, it may take some more time to complete the entire work.

The officials and employees of the ministries concerned on the five intact floors have started their offices. The second floor of the building houses a part of the office of the Local Government Department, the third floor houses the office of the Internal Resources Department, the fourth floor houses the Financial Institutions Department, and the fifth-floor houses the Ministry of Labor and Employment on the east side, and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications on the west side.

Talking to some officials and employees, it was learned that they have not yet received computer connections. Moreover, there is a burning smell in the office rooms.

However, many have received their necessary documents intact. They expect that it will take a day or two for everything to return to normal.

On the night of December 25, a fire broke out in building no 7 of the Secretariat, and four floors were burnt down. The four floors housed the offices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Labor and Employment, Department of Posts and Telecommunications, Department of Local Government, Department of Rural Development and Cooperatives, and Department of Road Transport and Highways.

Although many people entered the offices, the activities of the relevant ministries have been temporarily shifted outside the secretariat.

Meanwhile, the authorities are also said to be working on the security issues raised by the fire incident in one of the most important government buildings. The presence of law enforcement agencies was noticeable on Sunday. Although official vehicles were allowed to enter the secretariat, other vehicles were barred from entering.