Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has allocated Tk nine crore as Eid gift  for the shop workers, traders and owners at Bangabazar who have been affected in a devastating fire incident recently. The money has already been sent to their mobile phone, said Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah. Read More: Traders of Bangabazar set up around 800 temporary shops at the site.

Traders and shop owners of Dhaka's Bangabazar Market that burned down on April 4, can operate their businesses temporarily from this Saturday (April 08, 2023) at the site and adjacent area so that they can recover some of the losses. Bangladesh Prime Minister's Adviser on Private Industries and Investment, Salman F Rahman, gave the instruction to the shop owners’ association, after visiting the site today (April 06, 2023). Salman F Rahman visited Bangabazar Market along with leaders of different trade bodies and shop owners' associations. Last Tuesday, a fire broke out at the Bangabazar Complex, one of the main shopping areas in Dhaka city. During his visit to Bangabazar, Rahman also interacted with the affected traders of the market. Read More: Fakhrul suspects influential AL leaders behind Bangabazar Market fire After Rahman left Bangabazar, Bangladesh Shop Owners Association President Helal Uddin told reporters that he (Rahman) called him on his way back from the market. PM’s adviser then told Helal that the burnt area will be cleaned tomorrow (Friday), and the traders can temporarily operate there from Saturday. While visiting the market, Rahman also said that he spoke to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was deeply saddened by the incident. “The Prime Minister would like to provide assistance from her fund. Apart from this, many people from all over the country want to help,” he was quoted as saying. Read More: Bangabazar traders want interest-free loans to survive in business “For this, the shop owners’ association has been asked to open a joint account with the business organization here,” he said. He urged the Market Committee to prepare a list of affected traders and submit it to the City Corporation by next Sunday to get financial assistance. Rahman also said that if the previous case filed by some traders of Bangabazar Market is withdrawn, initiatives will be taken to implement the government’s previous plan to build a new market there. He said, when the market was burnt down years back, the government wanted to construct a new building there. But a fraction of traders did not want it and filed a lawsuit. If that case is withdrawn, the market will be rebuilt according to the previous government plan. Read More: Govt to assist Bangabazar businesses to recover from fire damages: PM Hasina

The affected traders of the Bangabazar fire incident have sought interest-free loans to survive in the business and for repayment of their bank liabilities. In addition, they called on the government to develop infrastructures for business operations again at the same place. The traders of Bangabazar Market made the demand while talking to reporters in front of the damaged market on Wednesday (April 05, 2023). Read More: MCCI to stand beside businesses that suffered loss in Bangabazar fire On Monday a devastating fire gutted around 5,000 small shops in Bangabazar and its nearby markets. Standing in front of his burnt shop, businessman Daud Mia told UNB that he took a loan of Tk 15 lakh from the bank a few days ago giving his home as collateral. “The goods of my three shops were burnt in the fire along with other goods, I am now destitute. There is no arrangement to pay the installments. So, I am asking the government for an interest-free loan to repay the bank loan,” he said as he sobbed. Read More: Bangabazar Market manifests govt’s irresponsibility: Fakhrul The businessmen urged the government to allow setting up shops in the same place again so that the traders who have clothes in their warehouse can sell them. Authorities say an assessment is being done to determine the losses from the fire, apparently to devise a way for supporting the affected businessmen.

National emergency service – 999 – has been suspended due to the massive fire at Bangabazar in the capital, said Police Headquarters. It also requested people to contact local police stations or fire stations in case of emergency. The massive fire broke out at Bangabazar market in Dhaka around 6:10 am on Tuesday (April 04, 2023) and spread soon. Read More: Bangabazar Market fire: 5 fall sick from inhaling smoke The blaze was brought under control around 12:36 pm, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters. However, black smoke is still coming out from different places and firefighters were still working to fully douse the fire, he said. Forty-eight firefighting units were engaged in extinguishing the blaze. Read More: Bangabazar Market fire in Dhaka causes huge traffic jam However, what caused the fire could not be known yet. At least five people fell sick while trying to extinguish the fire.

The devastating fire that broke out at Bangabazar market in Dhaka on Tuesday (April 04, 2023) morning caused an unusual traffic jam around the market area due to the closure of adjacent roads. Fire service, police, RAB, army, air force and navy are trying to extinguish the blaze that broke out around 6:10 am. Read More: Bangabazar fire: Shahidul, Moinuddin watch their businesses go up in flames Jayita Das, senior assistant police commissioner of DMP Traffic Lalbagh Zone, said that traffic movement in the adjacent areas has been stopped to ease the fire control activities. Traffic movement has been closed and limited on the roads in front of the High Court-Gulistan, Banga Bazar, Golap Shah Mazar police headquarters to Dhaka Medical, he added. This instruction about traffic movement will remain in force in this area until the situation turns normal, said the officer adding that general public are requested to use alternative roads. Read More: Fire at Bangabazar market still raging

Shahidul’s life goals and plans were shattered within a matter of minutes as three of his shops burned down in the massive fire that broke out at Dhaka's Bangabazar Market earlier today (April 04, 2023). “I came here around 6:30 am only to see the fire engulfing the whole market. The firefighting units are trying to bring the fire under control but haven't yet managed to do so,” Shahidul lamented at Government Employee’s Hospital. “I had some hope that the firefighting units would be able to save Annex Tower where my shop and two warehouses are located but the fire engulfed it also,” he said. Shahiful, hailing from Shahrasti upazila of Chandpur district, opened his shop at Phulbaria Bangabazar Market in 1991. Later, he became the owner of three more shops. Also read: Fire at Bangabazar market still raging He claimed that he purchased goods worth Tk 8 crore for his four shops ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, but the fire turned everything into ash. “I could not imagine that I would lose everything before Eid,” said Shahidul. Like Shahidul, Moinuddin, another businessman and owner of Dolon Garment store in the market, said, “Everything has been lost.” “I failed to do business for the last two years due to Covid-19. During this period, I faced a loss of several lakhs of taka. This year, I hoped that I will be able to make up for the losses but the fire has ruined everything.” Read More: Bangabazar market fire causes huge traffic jam “I can’t continue my business anymore,” he said. A massive fire broke out at Bangabazar Market this morning. 48 firefighting units are still working to extinguish the blaze.

The massive fire that broke out at the Bangabazar market in Dhaka on Tuesday morning has been brought under control after more than six hours of frantic efforts.The blaze was brought under control around 12:36 pm, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters.However, black smoke is still coming out from different places and firefighters are still working to fully douse the fire, he said. Read More: Bangabazar Market fire in Dhaka causes huge traffic jam Brigadier General Md. Main Uddin, Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defense, said that the fire doused after more than six hours but it will take one hour more to extinguish the blaze.  

A fire drill was conducted at Bangabazar Market in Dhaka on Saturday, marking the International Fire Prevention Day. Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense arranged the programme early on Saturday, said a release. Deputy Director of Fire Service and Civil Defense (Dhaka division), Dinmoni Sharma led the hour-long fire drill. Some 20 units from seven fire stations participated in the programme. Some local people, including the owners of shops and security guards, also joined the programme. READ: PRAN holds fire drill at factory in Narsingdi Fire Prevention Day is observed on October 9. The day aims at promoting awareness on the ways to prevent fire disasters.  The celebration of the day recognises the work of the firefighters who relieve people during emergency situations. READ: Firefighters rescue cat from Jashore hospital