The fire that broke out Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) kitchen market in Gulshan area on Saturday has gutted all of the 211 shops in the market.
Zaman Prodhan, vice-president of Gulshan-1 DNCC Kitchen Super Market Cooperative Association, told reporters that there were 211 shops in the market and all of the shops were gutted in the fire.
The fire broke out around 5:45 am and was fully doused around 11:30am, report UNB and bdnews24.com.
Army, Navy and Air Force members also joined the fire service teams in dousing the fire.
However, no casualty was reported, said Khurshid Anwar, a senior station officer of fire service and civil defence.
Officials have yet to determine the cause of the fire, but fire service workers say they suspect the fire may have started at one of the perfume stores.
This is the second incident of major fire in the capital that took place within two days. On Thursday last, a massive fire broke out at FR Tower in the city's Banani area, leaving 25 people dead and over 70 others injured.
About today's kitchen market fire, Major ShakilNewaj, director (operation and maintenance) of Fire Service Headquarters, said that it took a bit longer time to bring the fire under control for water crisis.
Besides, there was a massive fire incident at the market on January 3, 2017. The recommendations came after the incident were not implemented by the market authorities. There is no fire extinguishing system in the market either.
Jamal Hossain, owner of a sea-fish shop, said he along with his three brothers used to run seven shops in the market and the fire gutted all of those.
A total of 14 fish shops were gutted in the fire, he said.
Morshed Alam, a crookeries shop owner, said the fire that broke out in 2017 also gutted his shop. Later, he restarted his business with bank loan.
"This time, the fire gutted my shop again and caused a loss of Tk 5.0 million," he claimed.
Meanwhile, the fire service has formed a five-member panel to investigate the fire and the body has been asked to submit the report within seven working days.
The fire service has appointed Fire Service and Civil Defence Department Deputy Director (Administration) Shameem Ahsan Chowdhury as the head of the committee to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of the damages. Fire service Assistant Director Saleh Uddin has been appointed the secretary of the panel.
