Navy official: Secretariat fire likely deliberate, not from short circuit

A fire that broke out at the Bangladesh Secretariat early on Thursday might not have been due to a short circuit but likely a deliberate act, according to Bangladesh Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Md Aminul Islam.

Speaking to reporters after inspecting the scene in the morning, Aminul said that based on what he had seen inside the complex, he suspected the fire had not originated from a short circuit. 

“Initial observations suggest the fire started in multiple locations.”

“We have not yet obtained any information about the source of the fire. After receiving the news at night, our fire team rushed to the Secretariat,” the senior navy officer said.

When asked how a fire could break out in various parts of such a significant establishment, he said: “I did not witness how the fire started. However, from the internal assessment, it seems unlikely that a short circuit caused it. 

“If it were a short circuit, the fire would not have ignited in multiple locations. We are yet to identify who or what caused the fire. My preliminary belief is that it was a planned act.”

In response to why he thought the fire was deliberate, Aminul reiterated that the blaze seemed to have originated from multiple points. “If it were caused by a short circuit, it would have started in a single location. Our initial impression is that someone might have intentionally started the fire.”

About the extent of the damage, he said it was currently impossible to determine the full extent of the damage. 

Most of the affected areas had been completely destroyed, with all documents turned to ash, the officer added. “We are still assessing the situation and working to identify all the affected spots.”

“Some of our members are still inside and working. Our entire team is present,” Aminul said.