A devastating fire gutted seven shops in the Konabari area of Gazipur city, causing an estimated loss of around Tk30 lakh, according to the Fire Service and local residents.

The fire broke out around 1:30am today (11 November) in the Pukurpar area under Konabari Police Station.

The affected shops include Robin's glass store, Jahangir Alam's restaurant, Khokon Mia's bedding shop, Harun's tea stall, Rahat's poultry and variety store, and Maya Rani's grocery shop.

According to the Fire Service and eyewitnesses, the blaze is believed to have originated from Khokon's bedding shop, quickly spreading to the adjoining stores. Locals initially tried to douse the flames but failed. Later, two units of the Konabari Modern Fire Service Station rushed to the spot and managed to bring the fire under control after an hour-long effort.

Saiful Islam, warehouse inspector of Konabari Modern Fire Service, confirmed the incident, saying, "Upon receiving the call, two units responded and took nearly an hour to bring the blaze under control. Initial investigation suggests an electrical short circuit as the possible cause of the fire."

Tea stall owner Harun said in tears, "Everything I had is gone. My family survived on this shop. Now I have nothing left but despair."

Restaurant owner Jahangir Alam shared, "My family and I lived behind the hotel. When the fire broke out, we barely escaped with our lives. Except for the clothes we're wearing, everything else has been destroyed."

Poultry shop owner Rahat added, "It's salary time. All my records, cash, and credit documents are gone. I owed several lakh taka—now I don't know how to recover from this."

Local resident Mamunur Rashid Mamun said, "The fire spread through all the shops within minutes. We struggled to control it due to a lack of water supply."

 

fire / Gazipur