Massive fire destroys over 50 shops, homes in Bandarban

A devastating fire swept through Baghmara Market in Bandarban’s Sadar Upazila (sub-district) early Sunday morning, destroying more than 50 shops and residential houses and causing losses estimated at Tk 20-25 million, according to local traders and fire officials.

The fire broke out around 3:30 a.m. at the busy market area.

Local residents first spotted the flames and immediately alerted others through announcements from a nearby mosque’s loudspeaker system.

Residents rushed to the scene and attempted to contain the blaze before firefighters arrived.

However, the fire spread rapidly due to the presence of highly flammable materials stored inside many of the shops and homes.

Witnesses said the flames engulfed large sections of the market within minutes, creating panic among traders and residents.

Four units from the Rowangchhari Fire Service responded to the incident and worked for nearly three hours to bring the blaze under control.

By the time the fire was extinguished, much of the market had already been reduced to ashes.

Many affected shop owners said they lost all of their goods and savings in the fire, leaving them financially devastated.

Abdul Mannan Ansari, Assistant Director of the Bandarban Fire Service Station, said firefighters faced difficulties reaching and operating in the remote area.

“After receiving the news, four fire service units worked for nearly three hours to control the fire.

Due to the remote terrain, the operation was challenging. The exact cause of the fire and the amount of damage will be determined after an investigation,” he said.

Preliminary reports suggest that the fire may have originated from an electrical short circuit, although authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause.

This is not the first major fire incident at Baghmara Market. In February 2022, the market was also heavily damaged in another devastating fire.