A devastating fire that broke out in Building 7 of the Secretariat, the administrative hub of the nation located in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, could not be extinguished even after five hours of relentless efforts.

The fire has already spread to several floors, including the sixth, seventh, and eighth. Tragically, a firefighter, Sohanur Rahman Noyon, lost his life after being hit by a covered van while working to control the blaze.

As of 7 AM on Thursday (December 26), 19 units of the Fire Service were engaged in efforts to bring the fire under control. A video posted on the official Facebook page of the Fire Service showed the entire length of Building 7 engulfed in flames, with the blaze visible from outside.

The fire reportedly began around midnight in Building 7. Initially, at 1:54 AM, the Fire Service unit stationed at the Secretariat attempted to control the fire. However, as the fire`s intensity increased, 19 units were deployed sequentially to battle the blaze.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that the entire Secretariat area, including Segunbagicha and Purana Paltan, was shrouded in black smoke. Traffic in the surrounding roads came to a halt. A significant number of personnel from the Army, Police, and Armed Police Battalion (APBn) were present at the site, assisting the Fire Service in extinguishing the fire.

Confirming the deployment of law enforcement, BGB Public Relations Officer Shariful Islam stated that two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) had been deployed for rescue assistance following the fire in Building 7 of the Secretariat.

Meanwhile, the Fire Service worker who was hit by a covered van succumbed to his injuries. Initially, he was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in critical condition, where doctors pronounced him dead. The driver and helper of the covered van have been detained in connection with the incident.

Witnesses reported that the firefighter was arranging an alternative water supply to tackle the fire. While crossing the road with a pipe on his shoulder, he was hit from behind by a speeding covered van, causing him to fall onto the road. His helmet came off on impact, and bloodstains were visible on the road.

The driver of the covered van attempted to flee via the road in front of the Public Works Department building. However, students set up a barricade, forcing the driver to stop. They apprehended him, transported him on a motorcycle, and handed him over to law enforcement. During this time, an agitated crowd attempted to assault the driver, but army personnel brought the situation under control.

Speaking about the incident, Fire Service Duty Officer Rafi Al Faruk confirmed that the injured (later deceased) firefighter was rescued following the road accident and admitted to DMCH.

Regarding the fire, he stated, "At 1:52 AM today (Thursday), we received a report of a fire in Building 7 of the Secretariat. In response, 19 of our units are currently working at the site. Based on available information, the fire appears to be large. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage have yet to be determined."