Why fire at the Secretariat?

The possibility of a fire breaking out at the Secretariat, the heart of the administration, seemed unimaginable to many. In such a secure place, where even insects require clearance to enter, why did a massive fire suddenly erupt in the middle of the night? This incident is not just a matter of astonishment; it has spread significant fear among the public. Especially since the fire occurred at a time when important documents were being sought from secretaries. Several politicians have labeled this a planned act of arson, with some even declaring it to be part of a foreign conspiracy. Regardless of who was behind it, the event itself is highly concerning for the current political climate and future developments in the country.

According to information received by the media, the fire broke out in building number 7 of the Secretariat, which is a 10-story building. This building houses several crucial departments: the Ministry of Finance, the Financial Institutions Division, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The Fire Service reported that the fire damaged the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th floors. The 8th and 9th floors suffered the most damage, with most of the documents there being destroyed. It took six hours for 19 units of the Fire Service to bring the fire under control. The question is, why did it take six hours to extinguish a fire in such an important building? Was this a failure on the part of the Fire Service? Several Fire Service officials have said that they faced numerous difficulties while conducting the operation. During the effort to control the fire, one of their personnel even lost life.

A 7-member probe committee has been formed to investigate the fire incident at the Secretariat. It is important to find out the cause, as if it remains unknown, the mystery will only deepen, and there will be growing public fear of similar fires occurring in other important buildings. Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Cooperatives, and Youth & Sports of the Interim Government, stated, "The conspirators are relentless. Those involved in this conspiracy to fail us will not be given the slightest concession."

The damage caused by this fire cannot be measured just in terms of money. It has also caused a significant crack in the trust, faith, and values of the nation. The biggest fear is that this fire could spread everywhere. If the real culprits are not caught, various suspicions and webs of conspiracy will continue to spread, with people turning against each other. We do not want this fire to spread everywhere. We want the fire in the country to be extinguished. No fear should fall upon the public. The current government must tread carefully in dealing with this fire. It will not be enough to simply place the blame; the guilty must be found and brought under the law. One thing is certain: until the true cause of the fire is known, the public will not be at peace.