Market fire damages over 100 shops

Over 100 shops were gutted in a devastating fire at Jahur hawkers market adjacent to New Market in Chattogram early Saturday, reports UNB.

The fire broke out at 3:50 am at the market and soon spread to adjoining Jalalabad market, said assistant director (media) of fire service Md Jashim Uddin.

Fire fighters from Agrabad, Nandankanon, Chandanpur and Kalurghat fire stations brought the blaze under control around 6:00 am.

The origin of the fire and the extent of losses will be known after investigation, Jashim added.

Mohammad Hossain Babul, president of Jahur Hawkers Market Traders' Association, said many traders have lost everything as the fire burned down valuables worth around Tk. 30 million.

The market will remain shut on Saturday, he said.

The hawkers market, one of the most popular destinations of the city dwellers, houses several hundred tailoring shops, cloth shops and warehouses.