A fire broke out at a jute warehouse in Saltha upazila of Faridpur on Friday morning, causing significant damage.
The incident occurred around 8:00 am near Purura Road in Saltha Bazar. According to local sources, the fire quickly spread through the warehouse, burning around 350 maunds of jute and 30 maunds of lentils.
Firefighters from the Saltha Fire Service arrived at the scene with two units and worked for about two and a half hours to bring the blaze under control.
Warehouse owner Nazrul Islam claimed the fire was caused by a faulty overhead power line. He said a wire snapped and fell onto the tin shed of his warehouse around 7:30 am, sparking the fire. The flames later spread to two nearby shops owned by him and another trader, Masud.
Nazrul estimated his loss at around Tk 25–30 lakh. Local traders alleged that poorly installed electric lines in Saltha Bazar have created ongoing safety risks. They demand that unplanned wiring over shops often leads to such incidents.
However, Md. Rezaul Karim, AGM of the local electricity office, said the exact cause of the fire is still unclear. He noted that fires are often blamed on electrical issues without proper investigation. An inquiry into the incident is underway.
Md. Abdul Jalil, a sub-officer at the Saltha Fire Service Station, said initial findings suggest the fire may have originated from an electrical short circuit. He added that goods worth about Tk 50 lakh were saved during the operation.
After visiting the site, Upazila Executive Officer Md. Dabir Uddin said steps will be taken to ensure safer installation of power lines in coordination with the electricity department. He also urged traders and residents to remain cautious to prevent future incidents.
