Secretariat fire part of conspiracy to undermine govt: Asif Mahmud

Adviser to the interim government's Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, said on Thursday that those involved in the conspiracy to undermine the government will not be spared, no matter who they are.

He made this comment in a Facebook post on Thursday morning in response to the news of the fire at the Secretariat.

“We were investigating the embezzlement and corruption that occurred in the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives in the past. Evidence of the looting of several thousand crore taka had also been found. The extent of the damage caused by the fire is still unknown. Those involved in this conspiracy to undermine us will not be spared, no matter who they are,” the adviser wrote.

“I am currently in Nilphamari and will return to Dhaka as soon as possible,” he added.

Notably, the fire that broke out at the Secretariat at 1:52 am was brought under control shortly after 8:00 am on Thursday.