Fire destroys centuries-old records in Jashore Registry Office

Bangla Press Desk:   A mysterious fire broke out at the old building of the Jashore Registry Office on Thursday night, destroying centuries-old documents, including volume books, balam registers, index books, and other important records.

The blaze started around 9pm at the building. Within an hour, historical documents dating back to the British era were reduced to ashes.

Firoz Ahmed, senior station officer of Jashore Fire Service and Civil Defence, said two units reached the site shortly after the alert. The building gate was locked, and no staff were present inside. Firefighters broke the lock to enter and managed to control the fire after about an hour.

Officials confirmed that two rooms housing old records were completely destroyed, and the remaining documents were damaged by water used to extinguish the flames. The full extent of the loss will be determined after investigation.

Shamsuzzaman Milan, a former officer of the Jashore Sub-Registry Office, said the building stored critical documents from 1741 to 1940, covering Jashore and the surrounding areas. 

He noted that the building was rarely opened, and most documents have now been completely destroyed, with the remainder damaged by water.

Sohrab Hossain, president of the Jashore Document Writers’ Association, also visited the site. 

He said the security guard, named Hira, was not present when the fire broke out. Local shopkeepers described the incident as mysterious, noting that there was no electrical connection in the building, ruling out short circuits as the cause. They suspect the fire may have been set deliberately.

The authorities are investigating the incident to determine the exact cause and assess the total damage.

BP/SP