The probe committee formed by the interim government to investigate the Bangladesh Secretariat fire is expected to submit its preliminary report within next three days, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said on Thursday (December 26).

"We want a thorough and extensive investigation. The government is giving the highest importance to the matter," she said while briefing reporters at Foreign Service Academy in the evening.

She said an emergency meeting was held with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in the chair where the decision was taken.

The adviser said the government wants to wait until the probe committee`s report is received to answer all the questions.

"The media will get a copy of the probe report on completion of the full-fledged investigation," she said.

Rizwana said the senior secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs will lead the high-powered 7-member probe committee.

Secretary at the Housing and Public Works Ministry, Inspector General of Police, an explosive expert from the Armed Forces Division and three experts from BUET - chemical, civil and electronic engineers - are also part of the investigation team.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud also spoke at the press briefing.

Chief Adviser`s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was also present.

The fire at the secretariat broke out at 1:52am after Wednesday midnight. It took 19 firefighting units around six hours to bring the flames under control and 10 hours to completely douse them.