Staff Reporter :
Three separate fire incidents caused widespread damage across country on Sunday.
It was reported that in Kushtia district, a devastating fire ravaged approximately 5,000 bighas (around 2,000 hectares) of betel leaf orchards in Bheramara upazila.
The blaze erupted around 11:00 AM in the Raita Patharghata area and quickly spread to nearby orchards in Gosaipara, Madhabpur, and Nischintapur.
Firefighters from eight different units rushed to the scene and battled the flames for several hours before extinguishing them around 5:00 PM.
Assistant Director of the Kushtia Fire Service Department, Jane Alam, attributed the rapid spread of the fire to the extensive use of jute sticks in the orchard structures and strong winds.
While the origin of the fire and the exact extent of the damage remain under investigation, initial reports from fire officials suggest that around 500 bighas (approximately 200 hectares) were affected within ten minutes of the blaze starting. However, no casualties were reported.
Locals claim that the fire destroyed several thousand betel leaf orchards, incurring losses estimated at around Tk 50 crore.
In Chattogram, a fire that broke out in a warehouse of the Bangabandhu Tunnel in Anowara upazila has been brought under control.
On information, six firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control, said MD Abdul Malek, Assistant director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defense.
The tunnel authority had accumulated scrap materials in a yard. It is possible that one of the laborers accidentally discarded a burning cigarette in the yard, leading to the fire.”
There was no significant damage caused by the fire, he said.
Earlier on March 4, a fire ravaged the S Alam Sugar Mill warehouse in Chattogram, destroying raw materials and sparking environmental concerns as molten sugar and chemicals from the warehouse polluted the Karnaphuli River. The fire was extinguished after 67 hours.
Meanwhile, a fire broke out at ATM Lungi factory in Tangail’s Khudiramapur area around 12:30pm on Sunday.
However, five firefighting units brought the fire under control following a one-hour effort.
Tangail Fire Service and Civil Defence Senior Station Officer Mohammad Idris said: “Upon receiving the news, five firefighting units reached the spot.
The fire was doused following a one-hour effort.” However, the reason behind the fire could not be known immediately.
