Nilphamari Correspondent :
Properties worth about Tk 40 crore were burnt into ashes as a devastating fire engulfed the railway cloth market on Shahid Shamsul Huque Road at the center of Saidpur municipality of the district on Sunday mid night .
Victims informed that at about 2.00 a.m on Sunday night, suddenly a devastating fire grasped the entire cloth market consisting of 45 shops, most of which are either whole seller or retailers.
There were also some godowns of second hand cloths containing huge stock of warm cloths owned by some importers.
At time of the incident all the shops and godowns were closed after making business till 12.30 a.m.
Affected traders said that most of the shops were packed with new clothes and garments dresses as it was the main time of business after harvesting of amon paddy.
Within a short time, the fire spread all around turning the entire market into ashes.
Zabed Alam owner of Zabed cloth store said that he had turned into beggar overnight as he stored readymade cloths worth about Tk 35 lakh in his shop.
Another trader Nawsad Ali said that he did not get slightest time to bring out the clothes from the shops as all his employees went home at about 12.00 p.m.
Being informed, fire brigade vehicles from local fire station rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control after two hours frantic effort.
Saidpur Mayor Amzad Hossain Sarker said , that properties worth about Tk 40 crore were completely gutted and the affected traders are now staying under open sky.
Station manager of Saidpur fire station Saidar Rahman said that the fire originated from an electric pole standing in front of the market as it was containing clumsy connection wires resulting electric short circuit.
