Fire at Secretariat: Controlled entry allowed under tight security

Controlled entry resumed at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday morning under tight security measures, following a fire at its Building 7.

Authorities opened gate No 5 of the Secretariat, allowing officials and staff to enter one at a time, after entry was restricted for everyone following the fire at the country’s administrative headquarters.

At the same time, crowds of onlookers were gathered outside the Secretariat. Along with them were officials and staff who stood waiting, unable to enter their offices earlier.

Security was heightened in and around the Secretariat, with members of the armed forces, police, RAB and BGB deployed and stationed at various gates of the complex.

During a visit to the site, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the fire broke out on the fifth floor of Building 7 at around 1:50am. 

“The fire service was notified at 1:52am, and they began operations at 1:54am. The fire was completely brought under control at 8:05am."

The fire disrupted traffic on the main road in front of the Secretariat, from Paltan to Zero Point. Fire service vehicles and other emergency response units occupied the area, with several ambulances kept on standby.