A devastating fire broke out at Kumargari Bazar in Atgharia, Pabna on Tuesday evening and gutting four businesses and damaging a local school. The incident, which occurred around 7:30 PM in the Machpara Union area resulted in an estimated financial loss of Tk. 31 lakh. Fortunately no casualties were reported.
According to eyewitnesses, a spark from a local generator likely ignited the blaze. The fire quickly spread, completely engulfing Mohammad Torab Ali Bhuiyan’s mini petrol pump, which suffered the heaviest damage with estimated at Tk.15 lakh.
The flames also destroyed two pharmacies and a vegetable shop. Aynal Biswas’s poultry medicine store reported losses of around Tk 6 lakh, while Abul Hossain’s pharmacy and the adjacent vegetable shop suffered combined damages of Tk.5 lakh. Furthermore, the fire spread to the second floor of the nearby Tui Cadet School, causing an additional Tk.5 lakh in structural damage.
Atgharia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nazmul Haque confirmed the incident. A unit from the Atgharia Fire Service rushed to the scene immediately after receiving the alert. Firefighters battled the intense flames for nearly two hours before bringing the situation fully under control also preventing further disaster in the crowded market area.
