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A massive fire burnt down 95 shops in a bazaar in Bhurungamari upazila headquarters in Kurigram on Friday morning.
Local sources said the fire broke out at a clothes shop on the southern side of Bhurungamari Bazar around 6:30 am.
Within moments, the flames spread to adjacent shops, triggering panic among traders and locals.
Shopkeepers and residents attempted to douse the fire, but it quickly went out of control due to the presence of flammable materials.
Station Officer at Nageshwari Fire Station Khalilur Rahman said two firefighting units rushed to the spot and worked for about two hours to bring the blaze under control.
He added that the fire was initially suspected to have originated from an electrical short circuit.
Most of the affected shops were clothes outlets, with around 80 completely destroyed. In addition, 15 other shops, including those selling fruits, shoes, cosmetics and books, along with a nearby Zaker Party office, were also gutted.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Amrita Deb Nat visited the scene shortly after the incident.
He said preliminary estimates suggest that 95 shops were burnt down, causing losses of about Tk 15 crore.
The UNO also said instructions were given to prepare a list of affected traders and that the matter of rehabilitation was forwarded to higher authorities.
The fire, which broke out just days after Eid-ul-Azha, has left many traders devastated, severely affecting their livelihoods.
Tutul Mia, president of the Small Clothes Traders' Association of the bazaar, said most traders took loans from banks and NGOs to run their businesses and stocked new goods before Eid. "Everything has been destroyed in the fire. We are now left with nothing. Government support is urgently needed for rehabilitation," he said.