A devastating fire, suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, destroyed four shops at Lahuria Bazar in Lohagara Upazila early Friday.
The blaze broke out in the early hours of May 8, targeting a cluster of hardware and furniture businesses. According to the Fire Service and local witnesses, the fire originated at "Satta Furniture and Hardware," owned by Bakul Sheikh. The flames quickly spread to the adjacent "Ekta Furniture," owned by Faruk Biswas.
The fire was first noticed when a local mosque used its loudspeaker to alert the community. Traders and residents rushed to the scene to battle the flames before the fire service arrived.
Upon receiving the call, a team from the Lohagara Fire Service station reached the spot and brought the situation under control after an hour of intense effort.
Lohagara Fire Service Station Officer Md. Sohaguzzaman confirmed that while one hardware shop was completely destroyed and others partially damaged, the swift intervention prevented the fire from spreading to dozens of nearby businesses.
The affected shop owners reported significant losses. Bakul Sheikh estimated his damages at approximately 1 million BDT, while Faruk Biswas reported a loss of about 300,000 BDT. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
