Moments after the catastrophic fire at the Bangabazar Shopping Complex was brought under control at 12:36pm today, shop owners and employees were seen desperately going through the smouldering ruins to salvage whatever they could.

However, the damage was extensive, and many shops were completely destroyed.

Abdul Alim, a clothing store owner, was devastated after losing all of his new merchandise to the fire.

Photo: Rashed Shumon

Like him, many others had come to the location to see if any of their goods survived the fire.

Jafar Hossain, another shopkeeper, said, "The fire has finished everything. All of our new clothes have been burnt to ashes."

Much of the market was reduced to a mere pile of ashes, and the scent of burnt clothes lingered in the air.

Photo: Rashed Shumon

Additionally, the whole area was without electricity, and the neighbouring markets have been affected as well.

Many shopkeepers were left with nothing and were calling for support.

The cause of the fire will be known after investigation, fire service officials said.

Find more articles on the Bangabazar fire here