A fire, suspected to have originated from an electrical short circuit, gutted six shops at Timirkathi Border Haat in Nalchiti upazila of Jhalakathi early Tuesday.
The blaze broke out around 1:40am in front of Dapdapiya Union Parishad, causing losses estimated at about Tk15 lakh, according to affected traders.
Witnesses said the fire began at Said’s tea stall and quickly spread to adjacent shops.
Local residents alerted the Nalchiti Fire Service and Civil Defence after noticing the flames.
A fire service unit reached the spot and, with assistance from locals, brought the fire under control after about an hour.
However, all six shops were completely destroyed before the blaze could be extinguished.
Nalchiti Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ariful Alam said, citing the fire service, that the incident is primarily believed to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit.
