Mounting safety concerns are gripping the country’s central administrative hub, the Secretariat, where a severe shortage of office space has forced dozens of officials and employees to work inside a building long declared structurally unsafe.
Frequent mild to moderate earthquakes in recent years have further heightened their concerns.
Building No 1, constructed in 1937, was identified as hazardous following a structural assessment in 2017. Despite recommendations for demolition, parts of several ministries have recently been relocated to the building on a temporary basis, raising fears of a potential disaster.
The crisis has intensified following the formation of a larger government earlier this year, which expanded the number of ministers and administrative activities, placing additional pressure on already limited office space within the Secretariat.
A visit to the building found officials from the ministries of law, youth and sports, health, commerce, environment, and local government continuing their work under visibly deteriorating conditions. Many described a constant sense of fear, particularly in light of recent seismic activity.
One official, speaking anonymously, said the building noticeably shakes when heavy vehicles pass nearby. “At times the fear is so overwhelming that it becomes difficult to concentrate on work,” the official said.
Officials at the Government Accommodation Directorate confirmed that several ministry units had been assigned space in the building through verbal instructions, citing the acute shortage of office facilities. However, insiders expressed concern that the lack of written authorisation could complicate accountability in the event of an accident.
The 2017 assessment report found that the building had exceeded its intended lifespan and suffered a sharp decline in structural strength. Under the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC-93), its earthquake resilience was measured at less than 25 per cent of the required standard. Experts recommended immediate demolition and reconstruction.
Professor Istiak Ahmed of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology warned that the structure remains at risk of collapse, particularly during a moderate earthquake, and urged authorities to suspend all activities there without delay.
Concerns extend beyond Building No 1. Several nearby blocks—Buildings 2, 3, 5 and 8—constructed in a similar period, are also believed to be structurally weak, although formal assessments have yet to be carried out.
In response, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works has proposed constructing a new 21-storey complex on the site, at an estimated cost of Tk650 crore. The plan aims to address the Secretariat’s growing space deficit, currently estimated at more than 680,000 square feet.
Even if approved promptly, the project is expected to take until mid-2029 to complete, leaving officials with little choice but to continue working in high-risk conditions for years.
According to official data, more than 30 moderate earthquakes were recorded in and around Bangladesh between February 2025 and February 2026—highlighting the vulnerability of ageing government infrastructure and adding urgency to calls for immediate action.
