Fire guts over 50 shops in Moheshkhali

More than 50 shops have been gutted in a fire at a market in Moheshkhali upazila, Cox’s Bazar.

The affected traders have claimed that they suffered nearly Tk1 crore of damage from the flames.

The fire had started in the early hours of Monday at Boro Moheshkhali Notun Bazar in the upazila, according to locals.

Three firefighting units from Fire Service and Civil Defence’s Moheshkhali and Chakaria branches and locals altogether put out the flames around 8:30am, said Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jamirul Islam.

He said the origin of the fire was yet to be determined. “But locals suspected the fire started from a shop adjacent to the market’s mosque.”

No casualties were also reported.

Several witnesses also said that the fire started from a tea stall situated near the mosque. From there, the flames had spread to the other shops quickly.

They said the fire also damaged a number of shops in the market.