Staff Reporter:
A fire incident occurred at the office of the Chief Controller of Stores (CCS) of Bangladesh Railway in Pahartali, Chattogram, while renovation work was underway. The fire broke out around 11:10 pm on March 13 at the rear side of the office building. However, major damage was avoided as the fire was detected quickly and the Fire Service responded promptly.
According to officials, important documents and materials had already been relocated before the renovation work began. As a result, essential files and equipment of the office remained unharmed.
After nearly two decades, renovation work has finally started at the CCS office, one of the key procurement departments of Bangladesh Railway. The initiative was taken by the current Chief Controller of Stores, Belal Hossain Sarkar, to improve the long-neglected infrastructure of the office. Officials concerned say the long-standing stagnation was overcome through his initiative, allowing the renovation work to begin.
The CCS office serves as the central hub for procurement, receipt, storage and distribution of materials for Bangladesh Railway. Important activities related to the purchase and supply of railway equipment, spare parts and other materials are coordinated from this office. The department includes several procurement sections from P-1 to P-7, as well as shipping, inspection and warehouse units.Due to the absence of renovation for many years, the condition of the office buildings had deteriorated significantly. Damaged ceilings, broken floors, cracked walls, worn-out doors and windows, and outdated electrical wiring had created various difficulties for officials and staff in performing their duties. There were also concerns regarding the safe preservation of important documents.
After assuming office, CCS Belal Hossain Sarkar conducted an on-site inspection of the overall condition of the office. He later invited the Railway’s Chief Engineer, General Manager (GM), and Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) East, along with other senior officials, to visit the premises and assess the necessity of renovation. Following their inspection, renovation work was initiated and is currently ongoing.On the night of the incident, during a routine patrol, a member of the Railway Nirapotta Bahini (RNB), Md. Sabbir Hossain, noticed sparks of fire behind the main stores controller’s office. After informing the authorities, the Fire Service was immediately alerted and quickly brought the fire under control.
Preliminary assumptions suggest that the fire may have originated from welding sparks falling on tin sheets during renovation work or from an electrical short circuit. Some old documents stored behind the former IB section were partially burned in the incident.
To investigate the cause of the fire, a three-member inquiry committee has been formed, headed by District Stores Controller (Purchase-1) Md. Arifuzzaman Sikder.Railway officials believe that the long-awaited renovation of the CCS office will significantly improve the working environment and help make the procurement and supply system of Bangladesh Railway more efficient and dynamic in the future.
