A massive fire burnt down 95 shops in a bazaar in Bhurungamari upazila headquarters in Kurigram on Friday morning.
Local sources said the blaze began at a clothes shop on the southern side of the bazaar around 6:30am and quickly spread to neighbouring shops, creating panic among traders and residents.
Shopkeepers and locals attempted to control the flames, but the fire escalated rapidly due to flammable materials.
Station Officer of Nageshwari Fire Station Khalilur Rahman said two firefighting units brought the blaze under control after about two hours. He added that an electrical short circuit is suspected to have sparked the fire.
Most affected outlets were clothing shops, with around 80 completely destroyed. Fifteen other shops, including those selling fruits, shoes, cosmetics and books, along with a nearby Zaker Party office, were also damaged.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Amrita Deb Nat visited the site shortly after the incident. Preliminary estimates indicate losses of about Tk15 crore. The UNO instructed authorities to prepare a list of affected traders and forwarded rehabilitation plans to higher officials.
