Fire destroys 21 structures in three districts

At least 21 establishments were destroyed in separate fire incidents in Bandarban and Narayanganj districts and Daulatpur Upazila of Kushtia District on Monday.

BANDARBAN: A devastating fire destroyed 16 houses and two shops in Boroitali Para Village of Tarachha Union in Bandarban’s Rowangchhari Upazila late Monday night. Residents brought the blaze under control after nearly two hours of collective efforts.

The fire reportedly broke out around 10 pm in Ward No. 4 after a cooking stove was allegedly left unattended. Local sources said a resident, identified as Nai Mra Ching Marma, had left food cooking on the stove and gone to a neighbouring house to watch television. The flames are believed to have originated from the stove and quickly spread to nearby homes and shops.

Mohammad Abdul Mannan Ansari, Acting Assistant Director of the Bandarban Fire Service, said the station received the alert that night but could not send a fire fighting unit due to poor transport access. No boats were available on the Sangu River to ferry the fire engine across, leaving local residents to extinguish the blaze.

NARAYANGANJ: A fire broke out at a jhut (textile waste) warehouse in Jalkuri, Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, at around 9:30 pm on Monday. Three fire fighting units brought the blaze under control by 10:30 pm after nearly an hour of efforts.

Abdullah Al Arefin, Deputy Assistant Director of the Narayanganj Fire Service and Civil Defence, said three units from the Shibu Market Modern Fire Station responded to the incident.

A preliminary assessment suggests an electrical short circuit may have triggered the fire. The extent of the damage and whether any goods were salvaged remain unknown. Authorities are assessing the losses.

DAULATPUR, KUSHTIA: A midnight fire, believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, gutted three shops at Sonaikundi Road in Allardarga Bazar of Daulatpur Upazila of the district early Monday.

A night guard spotted the blaze and informed the fire service. Firefighters from Bheramara brought it under control.

The affected businesses were Khokon Telecom, Sohel Shoe Palace and Kumod Hair Dressing. Their owners estimated losses at Tk 25 lakh, Tk 8 lakh and Tk 3 lakh respectively, including cash and merchandise. Khokon Telecom owner Khokon reported losing Tk 1.67 lakh in cash, while Sohel Molla of Sohel Shoe Palace lost Tk 30,000. The fire left the shop structures unusable and the owners facing severe financial losses.

Market committee president Mintu Laskar put the total damage at around Tk 36 lakh, attributing the incident to negligence and urging traders to exercise greater caution.