A fire broke out early Wednesday at Jamtoil Purbo Bazar in Kamarkhand upazila of Sirajganj, destroying seven shops and causing an estimated loss of around Tk 4 million, according to affected traders. The blaze, which started around 6 a.m., is suspected by locals to have originated from an electrical short circuit before spreading to a rice hotel, sweet shop, salon, electronics store, and other small businesses.

The affected shop owners include Lal Mohan, Ratan Das, Rezaul Karim, Chan Mia, Lal Mia, Ripon, and Shahjahan. Fire service, police, and local residents managed to bring the fire under control after more than an hour of effort, but by then all the shops had been completely burned. Traders reported losing all goods and cash in the incident.

Farid Uddin, warehouse inspector of Kamarkhand Fire Service and Civil Defense, said the extent of the damage would be confirmed after investigation. Several traders appealed for government assistance following the losses.