A devastating fire swept through Muripatti in Madhabdi Bazar, Narsingdi, early Friday, gutting more than 50 shops, including at least 10 jewellery outlets, and causing losses worth several crores of Taka.
According to witnesses, the blaze started around 5am in one of the shops and quickly spread to adjacent businesses. A loudspeaker announcement from the central mosque urged locals to help fight the flames before firefighters arrived.
Five fire service units from Madhabdi, Narsingdi Sadar, and Palash upazila responded to the scene, battling the fire for nearly four hours before bringing it under control around 9am.
Eyewitnesses described how large sections of the market were destroyed within minutes. Despite firefighters’ best efforts, the flames raged for about two hours before being partially contained.
Local traders suspect the fire may have originated in a gold shop, though the exact cause has not yet been determined.
Madhabdi Fire Station Officer Rayhan Ahmed confirmed there were no casualties. He said a formal investigation is underway to identify the source of the fire, with further details to be released after the probe concludes.