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A massive fire broke out at New Super Market, a shopping place between the popular New Market and Dhaka College, on Saturday morning.
The fire started on the market's second floor at 5:45 am and spread to other floors, according to New Market Police Station chief Shafiqul Gani Sabu.
As many as 28 units of the fire service were battling the blaze, which was later brought under control, but will take some time before it is extinguished, according to Brig Gen Md Main Uddin, director general of the fire service.
Teams of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force joined forces with the fire service, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate, reports bdnews24.com.
Earlier, Bangladesh deployed 12 platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh, a paramilitary force, to help bring the fire under control.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear, and no casualties were reported, said Shahjahan Sikder, assistant deputy director of the fire service.
Smoke engulfed the entire area as shopkeepers struggled to save their merchandise from the fire.
Saturday’s fire came 11 days after the Bangabazar fire that gutted thousands of shops.
The authorities have halted or diverted traffic around the Dhaka New Market and nearby areas, according to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
22 BEING TREATED AT DMCH
At least 22 people are receiving treatment for injuries and illness after being caught in the fire and smoke at New Super Market.
Among them are store workers, firefighters, and Air Force personnel.
A team of doctors has been assembled to provide them with the necessary treatment, said Inspector Md Bachchu Mia, chief of the DMCH police outpost.
The injured have been identified as firefighters Rasel, 22, Shanto, 24, Toufiq, 23, Rajan, 25, Milon, 26, Sajib, 25, Ariful, 26, Kamruzzaman, 25, and Shariful, 24, store workers Rifat, 23, Bayezid, 25, Hassan, 20, Rimon, 28, Kamal Hossain, 33, Firoz Alam, 30, Jishan, 18, Yasin, 24, Jibon, 25, Swapan, 23, store owner Jibon, 30, Air Force Sgt Araft, 32, and Ansar member Shobuj, 20.