Jhalakathi: Twelve business establishments were gutted by a fire at Kaikhali Bazar in Kathalia upazila of Jhalakathi early Friday. Three people were also injured while trying to put out the fire.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the fire broke out at a cosmetic shop in the bazaar around 4:00am and soon engulfed adjoining ones. Upon receiving information, two firefighting units from Kathalia and nearby Bhandaria upazila rushed in and brought the blaze under control after about two hours of efforts with the help of locals.
The fire burned down 12 business establishments, with the affected traders claiming that they suffered losses of nearly Tk 1 crore. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Mokbul Hossain visited the affected bazaar and assured the traders of financial assistance and corrugated iron sheets to rebuild their establishments.
Kathalia Fire Service Station Officer Md Khalilur Rahman said the fire was suspected to have originated from an electrical short circuit, adding that the extent of the damage could not yet be determined.