A massive fire broke out at the hawkers' market in Mymensingh’s Ganginapar, around 7am on Thursday.
Around 150 shops were burnt to ashes with huge stock of goods, stored ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the country’s biggest religious festival.
It took three and a half hours for 10 of the fire service units from different upazilas of Mymensingh and adjoining areas to bring the fire under control.
Shop owners said they stored bulk goods ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr shopping spree.
Some shop owners were lost, not knowing what to do as all their goods had been brought down to ashes.
Many shopkeepers and owners were in tears in front of the market. They said they had almost lost everything and had no idea how to overcome the tragedy.
Shopkeepers said that most business in this market is done before Eid-ul-Fitr. Profits from Eid sales are used to cover expenses of the shop employees, and family round the year.
President of the Shop Owners’ Association Abdul Haque said: “Around Tk50 core worth of goods are feared to have been burnt."
Assistant Director of Mymensingh Fire Brigade Shahidur Rahman said: “The fire may have started from a short circuit in one of the shops.”
District Superintendent of Police (SP) Syed Nurul Islam said: “We helped to bring down the fire and provide security in the area.”
Meanwhile the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr Subhash Chandra Biswas announced that financial support and soft loans would be provided to the affected traders.
