New Supermarket was declared at risk of fire 7 years ago

The New Supermarket building was declared to be at risk of fires in 2016, according to the fire service.

Fire service officials gave the media the information following a massive fire at the three-storey market on Saturday morning.

Twenty-eight units of the fire service are working to bring the fire under control.

The fire was yet to be brought under control after four hours of frantic effort till the filing of the report at 10am.

Besides, teams of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force joined forces with the fire service. Air Force helicopters are also ready. The BGB and police are working to control the fire and crowd.

Meanwhile, following the news of the fire, traders and their relatives are gathering at the market. Some traders also burst into tears when they found their shops burning. 

Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

The air in the area has now become heavy with their cries.

Masud Ahmed, a firefighter at Palashi fire station, said that soon after the fire started, it spread quickly.