A fire broke out in a moving covered van early Sunday on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, destroying approximately half of its cargo and causing temporary traffic gridlock. No casualties were reported.
The incident occurred around 6 a.m. in the southern U-turn area of Bariarhat Municipal Market. The vehicle, en route from Chattogram Port to Narayanganj, was carrying approximately 7,000 imported electronic mosquito zappers.
The driver, Md. Shamsul Haque, noticed flames erupting from the front of the vehicle and managed to escape unharmed. He immediately alerted the nearby Bariarhat Fire Service Station, located just 200 meters away.
Multiple firefighting units responded to the scene, battling the blaze for nearly two hours before bringing it under control. While the fire was contained, the front of the van, the engine, and nearly 3,500 electronic units were incinerated.
Zorarganj Highway Police were forced to suspend traffic in both directions for approximately 30 minutes to allow fire crews to run water lines across the highway. Flow returned to normal once the fire was extinguished.
Haque estimated the total damage at Tk 2.5 million (approximately $21,000). According to the driver, the fire likely originated from a leak in the vehicle's gas nozzle. Senior Fire Service Officer Joynal Abedin confirmed that an investigation is underway to finalize the cause and total loss.
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