Nine shops gutted in Habiganj market fire

A late-night fire swept through a market in Habiganj’s Baniachong upazila, leaving at least nine shops destroyed.

The blaze began in the early hours of Wednesday at a restaurant in Bithangal Akhra Bazar and spread quickly after a gas cylinder exploded inside the premises, according to local sources.

Firefighters faced delays in reaching the scene due to poor road conditions, said Riaz Uddin of the local fire service unit.

By the time the fire was brought under control, multiple businesses, including grocery stores and an electronics shop, had been reduced to ashes.

Shop owners said the flames spread so rapidly that they could not rescue any goods, estimating losses at around Tk 1 crore.

Authorities said the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.