The Mohammadpur Krishi Market caught fire in the early hours on Thursday, damaging more than 600 shops.
However, an official estimate stated that 217 shops were gutted in the fire that erupted around 3:43 am and was brought under control at 9:25 pm. The blaze had yet to be completely extinguished as of the filing of this report at 10 pm, as smoke was still emitting from a block of clothing stores in the market.
Seventeen firefighting units were deployed to deal with the accident. Wasa, Bangladesh Air Force, Army, Navy, BGB, and police also assisted the firefighters.
Earlier this year, Bangabazar and the New Supermarket saw devastating fires on April 4 and 15, respectively.
Those affected by Thursday’s inferno held the authorities concerned responsible for their losses and accused them of showing negligence in ensuring fire safety measures and monitoring them.
But the authorities involved in the market rejected the allegation and instead said it was the shop owners who ignored the fire safety issue despite repeated warnings.
The third massive blaze in a major and busy market in the capital since April has put the future of more than 2,000 people, including shop owners and staff members, into uncertainty.
The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) claimed that there were 343 shops, and 217 among them were damaged. The market houses shops selling groceries and bakery items, shoes, clothes, plastic products, and jewelry, among other goods.
Even though there was no official estimate of the extent of losses, Dhaka Metropolitan Shop Owners Association President Arifur Rahman Tipu claimed that the shop owners had lost a mammoth Tk300-350 crore.
What DNCC and fire services said
DNCC Chief Executive Officer Salim Reza said that the market authorities had not taken any action despite being given instructions to take fire safety measures.
DNCC officials had earlier inspected the market to check its fire safety system and did not find any such system in place, he told this newspaper.
"A notice was given on strengthening fire safety measures in this market. But they did not take action. Due to this, we have faced this terrible situation,” he added.
Meanwhile, the fire service also said there were inadequate fire safety measures inside the market.
Brig (retd) Ali Ahmed Khan, a fire safety expert, said the market was in a completely dangerous condition, and the electrical wires and air conditioning system had not been installed following proper rules.
Sabotage?
Firefighters have begun an investigation to confirm whether it was merely an accident or an act of sabotage.
Fire Service and Civil Defence Director (Operation and Maintenance) Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury said that the market had already been declared vulnerable, and an extra load of electricity was being used there.
Despite the maximum power transmission capacity of 400 kW, electricity was being supplied to the market far beyond the fixed load, he said.
“Our investigation will reveal if an electric short circuit caused by excess electricity was behind the fire, or if someone deliberately ignited the fire.
Deputy Commissioner Anisur Rahman said a five-member investigation committee has been formed and will submit its report within five days.
Question over fire in early hours
Business leader Tipu, talking to reporters, questioned: “How do fire incidents take place in the markets of Dhaka in the early hours?”
This needs to be looked into, he insisted, adding that the market is very popular as all products were sold at reasonable prices.
About the fire service’s tagging the market as “vulnerable,” Tipu said, “Never did we receive any notice in this regard before.”
Traders smell conspiracy
The affected shopkeepers suspect that a vested quarter set fire to the market on purpose.
As the market remains shut on Thursdays, they questioned why the fire incident occurred on a weekend and, that too, in the early hours.
“Moreover, today (Thursday) was our weekly closure. Why did the fire occur only on the weekend?” said one of the traders.
Some of them said the fire started in three shops in as many corners of the market, which they find highly suspicious.
Amir, one of the businessmen, said, “The fire started suddenly in a confectionery in the east-south corner. Soon afterward, another shop caught fire in the northwest corner, while another one was on the southwest side.”
The DNCC and district administration have said that they will help the affected traders within their maximum capacity.
