47 shops and houses gutted in fire in Bandarban

Around 47 shops and houses have been gutted in a fire at Baghmara Bazar in Jamchhari Union of Bandarban Sadar Upazila. Locals believe that at least 20 million taka of damage has been caused. The accident occurred at around 4 am yesterday, Saturday (May 17). Abdul Mannan Ansari, Assistant Director (Acting) of Bandarban Station of Fire Service and Civil Defense, confirmed the matter to Bangla News.
According to the fire service and local sources, locals suddenly saw a fire in the market at around 4 am yesterday. Later, when an announcement was made over the microphone of the mosque, the locals quickly went to the spot and tried to put out the fire. However, since most of the shops and houses contained flammable materials, the fire spread quickly. Upon receiving the information, three units of the Bandarban Fire Service reached the spot and brought the fire under control after about three hours of effort. But by then, about 47 shops in the market and the surrounding houses had completely burnt down.
Traders affected by the fire said that they were left completely destitute as their shop goods were burnt in the fire. Jamchhari Union Parishad Chairman Kia Singh Shahi Marma told Banglanews that a fire broke out in a shop behind the market due to an electrical short circuit and it spread all around. About 47 shops and houses in the market were completely burnt down in the fire. Abdul Mannan Ansari, Assistant Director (Acting) of the Bandarban Station of the Fire and Civil Defence Force, told Banglanews that it took some time to put out the fire due to the remote area. The source of the fire and the actual extent of the damage will be known after the investigation. Earlier, on February 8, 2022, 13 shops and two houses were burnt down in a fire in Baghmara Bazar.