The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) has pledged to donate Tk 1 crore to the traders who fell victim to the devastating Bangabazar fire.
FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin made the pledge on Sunday after visiting the fire gutted Bangabazar market in Dhaka.
The fire broke out in the Bangabazar Complex a little after 6am on April 4, and quickly spread to the nearby Adarsha market, Mohanagar Market, Gulistan Market, Annex Tower, and Islamia Market.
Forty-eight firefighting units of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control at around 12:36pm, after more than six hours of frantic effort.
Teams of Bangladesh army, navy, Border Guard Bangladesh, Rapid Action Battalion, and Ansar personnel also assisted in the endeavour. Besides, a helicopter of the Bangladesh Air Force was also used to carry water to the scene of the incident.
At least 12 people got injured in the fire, including several members of the fire service department.
Visiting the scene of the fire, Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity President Md Helal Uddin told reporters, “Around 5,000 shops in Bangabazar and the surrounding markets were damaged in the fire.
“This is not the right time to evaluate the losses, but initial estimates show that clothing goods worth over Tk 1,000cr have burned to ashes.”
Traders say Bangabazar is one of the biggest wholesale clothing markets in the country, and it expects a large volume of sales during the Eid.
The business of this market had gradually accumulated centring on the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr – the largest festival of Muslim community. The sales volume in Bangabazar was starting to pick up since the beginning of this year, but Tuesday’s fire has left the traders effectively penniless.
