With profound sorrow and heavy hearts, Citizen Initiative expresses its deepest respect for the late firefighter who tragically lost his life in a road accident while on duty as a first responder at the fire incident at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka. Martyr Md. Shoyanur Jaman Noyon (24) was struck by a truck while crossing the road to connect a pipe to the nearest water pump. We call on the Bangladesh government to take immediate and transparent action to bring the responsible truck driver to justice.

CI is also gravely concerned about the fire at the Bangladesh Secretariat, which devastated several floors of Building No. 7. Preliminary investigations, as stated by a representative team from the Bangladesh Navy, suggest the fire was not caused by an electrical short circuit but was instead deliberate. We urge the government to disclose the true cause of this incident and ensure that those responsible are held accountable without delay.

Whether intentional or accidental, the fire at the Secretariat poses a serious threat to Bangladesh’s security. If it was intentional, it is deeply alarming; if accidental, it reflects a critical lapse in safety protocols in the secretariat. In either case, Citizen Initiative demands visible action against those found responsible and stronger measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

Best regards

Taib Ahmed

General Secretary

Citizen Initiative

Instructor and PhD Candidate

Colorado State University

Dr. Hasan Mahmud

Chairman

Citizen Initiative

Assistant Professor

Northwestern University, Qatar