The government has issued strict directives to curb interior decoration and unauthorised repair works inside the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka, aiming to strengthen fire safety and prevent future accidents, sources said.
The move follows an investigation that found unregulated "beautification" and renovation projects by individual ministries were turning the country's Key Point Installation (KPI) into a potential firetrap, the sources added.
The executive engineer's office has sent instructions to state agencies, including all ministries and divisions, based on recommendations issued by the Cabinet Division.
The Bangladesh Secretariat, the country's administrative nerve centre, houses the highest offices of the executive branch, making its security a top priority. However, recent assessments flagged a dangerous trend of ministries and divisions executing interior decoration projects unilaterally, authorities said.
According to the directives, ministries and divisions have been conducting their own interior renovations and electrical modifications, which have increased fire risks and disrupted the structural safety and fire prevention systems of the buildings.
The crackdown follows the recommendations of a high-level investigation committee formed after a fire incident in building number-7 of the Secretariat. The probe identified that the root causes of the fire were closely linked to haphazard internal renovations.
The committee found that independent electrical wiring added during decoration often bypasses safety standards, while partition and aesthetic materials used are frequently highly flammable.
To address these risks, the Cabinet Division has laid out specific prohibitions. The recommendations emphasise restricting interior decoration and, in the short term, discouraging such work except when necessary.
In unavoidable cases, the use of "Class-A fire rated material" must be strictly ensured.
The directives also call for the immediate cessation of independently initiated interior decoration and installation or repair of electrical and mechanical systems by individual ministries or divisions.
A senior official said, "To implement these directives and reinforce overall fire safety within the Secretariat, concerned authorities have been urged to halt unauthorised decoration and repair activities.
Compliance with the investigation committee's recommendations is mandatory to prevent future fire incidents in one of the country's most important administrative installations."
Officials added that enforcing these measures is essential not only for preventing fire hazards but also for maintaining the structural integrity and security of all buildings within the Secretariat compound.
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