A devastating fire in the busy Borobazar commercial area of Netrokona town destroyed five business establishments and three houses on Friday night, before 8 Fire Service units brought the flames under control after a 90-minute struggle.

The blaze broke out on Friday around 9.27 pm in the town's most densely populated commercial hub, prompting affected families and business owners to demand immediate rehabilitation.

While preliminary reports suggest significant damage, victims asserted that the total financial loss could range between Tk 4 crore and Tk 5 crore.

Khandaker Mushfiqur Rahman, Netrokona Deputy Commissioner (DC) and District Magistrate, visited the scene to inspect the damage and speak with the victims on Saturday.

According to the DC's media cell, he instructed relevant authorities to ensure a fair assessment of the losses and to provide necessary assistance to those affected.

Later, the DC visited Netrokona Sadar Hospital to check on those injured in the fire, including firefighters from the Fire Service and Civil Defence who were hurt during the rescue operation. He discussed their treatment progress with doctors and directed that all necessary medical care be ensured.

Md. Tariqul Islam, Netrokona Superintendent of Police (SP), also visited the scene multiple times to oversee the situation.

Local authorities, including the district administration, police, and municipality, remain on alert as the removal of damaged goods continues.