A massive late-night fire gutted five business establishments at Naldanga Bazar in Sadullapur Upazila, Gaibandha, causing estimated losses of 50 lakh BDT.
The blaze broke out around 3:00 AM on Wednesday at "Singapore Market," located in front of the Naldanga Agrani Bank.
The affected business owners have been identified as Mokshed Ali (plastic and silver hardware), Amulya Ratan (Ayurvedic and Homeopathic medicine), Fakhrul Islam Faruk (TV and electronics), and Tozammel Haque Tota (grocery). A local salon was also destroyed.
According to Sadullapur Fire Service sources, the fire originated from an electrical short circuit in one of the shops and rapidly spread to adjacent units.
"This shop was my family's sole livelihood," said Amulya Ratan, one of the affected traders. "Everything is gone. I don’t know how we will survive." Other traders expressed similar despair, noting that their children's education and daily household expenses depended entirely on these businesses.
Station Officer of Sadullapur Fire Service and Civil Defense, Abdur Rahman, confirmed that while firefighting teams and locals managed to bring the flames under control, the shops were already reduced to ashes.
Naldanga Union Parishad Chairman, Abdul Gafur, visited the site and described the losses as irreparable. He confirmed that the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) has been contacted to arrange emergency financial assistance for the victims.
