Fire breaks out at Jhalmal Cinema Hall, 15 other shops

A fire broke out at the historic Jhalmal Cinema Hall in Gouripur upazila of Mymensingh early Wednesday, gutted the cinema hall and around 15-20 nearby shops severely damaged.

The fire incident occurred at around 2:15am. Four units of the Fire Service rushed to the scene after receiving the news and brought the blaze under control after approximately one and a half hours of efforts said Assistant Director of Mymensingh Fire Service Purna Chandra Mutsuddi .

He said an LPG cylinder warehouse was located adjacent to the cinema hall. The fire is initially believed to have originated from the warehouse. The exact cause, however, will be determined after an investigation.

Several businesses, including decoration and second-hand clothing shops, were also damaged in the fire. The Fire Service could not immediately determine the total extent of the financial losses.

Historians from the ACECC Association described the incident as a serious loss to the area’s cultural heritage.

“Jhalmal Cinema Hall is closely connected with the historical legacy of the Raj Gouripur Estate. It was once an important theatre. The destruction of such a centuries-old cultural landmark is deeply painful and undoubtedly an irreparable loss to local history and heritage,” they said.

They urged the authorities to preserve whatever remains of the historic structure and undertake a proper assessment before any debris is removed.

Local residents and heritage enthusiasts have called for immediate measures to assess the damage, preserve the surviving architectural elements and explore possibilities for restoring the historic structure.