Fire at Jashore sub-registry office destroys 200-year-old records

A fire broke out at the record archive of the Jashore Sub-Registry Office on Thursday night (January 1), destroying valuable documents, including 200-year-old volume books, registration records, indexes, and other historical files.

The blaze started around 9:00pm in the office’s old building and was brought under control after nearly an hour, Jashore Fire Service and Civil Defence Senior Station Officer Firoz Ahmed. "Two units rushed to the scene, broke open the locked gates, and managed to douse the fire."

He added that the full extent of the damage will be known after a detailed investigation.

The building, originally constructed during the British colonial period for official use, had later been abandoned.

Despite structural neglect, it continued to house ancient records from 1741 to 1940, covering Jashore and surrounding areas, according to Shamsuzzaman Milon, officer of the Sharsha Sub-Registry Office. Much of the archived material was completely destroyed, while some documents were water-damaged during firefighting efforts.

Sohrab Hossain, president of the Notary Writers’ Association, said no night guard was present when the fire broke out.

Local traders noted the building had no active electrical connections, suggesting the fire was unlikely caused by a short circuit.

Police and administration are investigating the incident, with suspicions that it may have been deliberate.