JAGANNATHPUR, SUNAMGANJ, Dec 5: A devastating fire in Jagannathpur Municipality's Shantinagar Bazar reduced 11 shops to ashes early Friday, causing losses estimated at around Tk 1 crore.
The blaze broke out at the Chikka Mosque Market near Hospital Point around dawn.
Local traders, furious over the extent of damage, blamed the Jagannathpur Fire Service for failing to respond in time. They staged a human chain at the scene and announced plans to lay siege to the fire service office.
Obaidul, one of the affected shop owners, said his entire stock worth Tk 10-12 lakh was destroyed. "Everything has turned to ashes," he lamented. Another trader, Shishu Mia, said no one could explain how the fire started. "We rushed after hearing the news and saw a horrific situation," he added.
Bilal Ahmed, Secretary of the Shantinagar Bazar monitoring committee, expressed anger at the delay. "Eleven shops have been gutted, causing losses of nearly Tk 1 crore. Had the fire service arrived on time, this damage could have been avoided. But they refused to come citing the Bailey bridge, and by the time the Bishwanath fire service arrived, everything was gone," he said. Traders have since decided to besiege the local fire service office.
Mohammad Murshed, Officer-In-Charge of Jagannathpur Fire Service Station, explained that their vehicle could not cross the small Bailey bridge near the helipad area. "We contacted Bishwanath station and asked them to respond. As they came, we did not go," he said.
