13 Fakirhat shops gutted in fire

At least 13 large and small shops were completely gutted when a devastating fire broke out at the Faltita wholesale fish market in Fakirhat upazila of Bagerhat district at around 3:30am on Wednesday.

According to local residents and affected shopkeepers, the fire originated at one of the shops and quickly spread to adjacent shops, going out of control as most people at the market were asleep.

Shahjahan Mia, officer-in-charge of the Fakirhat Fire Service and Civil Defence Station, said the fire was suspected to have originated from an electrical short circuit.

On receiving the information, a fire service unit from the Fakirhat Upazila headquarters rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control after nearly two hours of firefighting.

At least 11 shops, including sweet and food shops, rice hotels and grocery stores, along with all their belongings, were completely reduced to ashes.

The extent of the damage caused by the fire could not be immediately ascertained.