Patuakhali: At least five shops, including a local office of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), were engulfed in a fire that broke out early today at Tegachiya bazaar under Mithaganj Union of Kalapara upazila.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Illias Hossen, in-charge of the Kalapara Fire Service Station, confirmed the incident. The fire affected two grocery shops, a restaurant, a pesticide shop, and the BNP office.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire might have originated from an electric short-circuit, Illias Hossen added. “Upon receiving information, our team rushed to the spot and managed to douse the blaze after an hour of hectic effort,” he stated.
He further mentioned that an investigation is underway to determine the precise cause of the fire incident. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Rabiul Islam stated that instructions have been given to the Project Implementation Officer to compile a list of the affected shopkeepers.