Staff Correspondent
CHITTAGONG, Dec 24: A devastating fire that broke out at Singapore Market in the port city burnt down hundreds of shops on Wednesday evening.
The fire that went up in flames around 6.40 pm was brought under control, police and eyewitnesses said.
Over 400 different kinds of shops mostly garments, cookeries, cosmetics, shoes and leathers in the Somobai Singapore Market near Chotopool in city's Agrabad area were burnt in the fire.
The makeshift structured market, most popular for the middle income group housed around 500 shops and its owners could not save their belongings from the devastating fire.
Nearly 20 fire fighting vehicles of six units brought the flame under control at around 8:00pm, the fire brigade sources told The Daily Observer.
The law enforcement agencies are cordoning off the market to ensure security and prevent looting.
One of the traders Md Sarwar, who has a shop in the market, said the fire originated from the slum behind the market.
Fire was seen burning down most of the shops on the back of the single-storey tin-shed market.
Owner of clothing store Bismillah Enterprise, Md Shakil said, "We were unable to save anything from the shop. Everything is lost."
However, none was reported injured in the fire.