Fire guts 4 shops in Chandpur

The incident occurred late Wednesday night (October 7).

Upon receiving information, a 12-member team from the Faridganj Fire Service reached the scene promptly and brought the blaze under control after nearly an hour of continuous effort.

Local traders and eyewitnesses reported that the fire originated around midnight at a shoe store named "Shaheed Shoe Store."

The flames quickly spread to the adjacent "Adarsha Pharmacy" before engulfing Monir's grocery store and Mainuddin's grocery store. Additionally, Rofique's grocery shop, Nesar Ahmed's grocery shop, and Farid Doctor's pharmacy sustained partial damage.

Affected shop owners faced devastating losses. Tutul Chandra Sheel, co-owner of Adarsha Pharmacy, shared that he and his brother lost medicines and goods worth Tk 10 to 12 lakh.

The owner of Shaheed Shoe Store, who was in Dhaka at the time, reported losses between Tk 3 and 4 lakh, while Monir and Mainuddin estimated damages to their grocery inventories at around Tk 5 lakh each. Affected traders estimated total damages at roughly Tk 50 lakh.

Harunur Rashid Jamal, General Secretary of the Gridakalindia Market Traders Association, praised the swift response from locals and firefighters, noting that a delay of even half an hour could have resulted in dozens of shops and crores of taka in property turning to ashes. He urged shopkeepers to inspect aging electrical wiring and switches to prevent similar hazards.

Robiul Alam, Station Leader at Faridganj Fire Service, stated that initial investigations suggest the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. He estimated official damages at around Tk 12 to 15 lakh, adding that prompt action saved property worth crores across the market.