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Government officials and staff faced severe challenges while entering the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday morning after a devastating fire engulfed Building No. 7, disrupting regular operations.
The administrative hub, which typically operates with four entry gates, had only Gate-5 open for access, causing severe congestion.
The fire broke out at 1:52 am on Wednesday night and engulfed the sixth to ninth floors of Building No. 7, housing offices of six ministries and multiple departments, as per a UNB report.
It took 19 firefighting units over six and a half hours to bring the blaze under control.
However, the cause of the fire remains unknown, and the extent of the damage is yet to be determined.
Officials described the entry process as strenuous, with long queues forming as identification cards were verified.
Adding to the challenges, curious onlookers gathered outside the Secretariat, prompting heightened security measures.
Police and military personnel have been deployed to ensure order and safety.
The building No. 7 accommodates ministries like Youth and Sports; Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology; Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives; Labour and Employment; and the Ministry of Finance.