Bangladesh: Massive Fire Guts Hundreds Of Shops In Dhaka Market

It took nearly six hours for the firefighters to douse the flames that spread in Mohammadpur market. However, no casualty was reported.

A massive fire that broke out at Bangabazar clothing market in Dhaka earlier this year.

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New Delhi: Hundreds of shops were gutted after a massive fire broke out in a market in Bangladesh capital Dhaka on Thursday, news agency Reuters reported. It took nearly six hours for the firefighters to douse the flames that spread in Mohammadpur market. However, no casualty was reported.

According to the Reuters report, the probable cause of the fire was short circuit. Fire service official Shahjahan Sikder said there were no casualties in the incident.

"My family was dependent on this shop, what to do now? All burnt to ashes," Reuters quoted a shop-owner as saying.

The fire broke out at the market around 3:43am, warehouse inspector of Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters (Media Cell), Anwarul Islam, said as reported by Dhaka Tribune.

According to senior station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters (Media Cell), Bangladesh Air Force, Army, Navy, BGB, and police were assisting the fire service men.

Fire incidents are common in the densely populated Bangladesh capital, which has seen a building boom in recent years, often without proper safety measures.

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Dhaka reports fires and explosions due to faulty gas cylinders, air conditioners and bad electrical wiring.

Earlier in April this year, a massive fire in a shopping complex in Dhaka injured several firefighters and gutted around 5,000 shops, according to the news agency.

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According to news agency AP, the fire started at Bangabazar clothing market in Dhaka at 6:10 am on April 4 and firefighters from 47 units had to be roped in to help douse the blaze. The fire raged for six hours before it was brought under control. 

Several shop-owners tried to save some of their belongings but failed as the fire spread quickly, AP reported.