‘Dreams gone up in flames’

With just a week to go till Eid-ul-Fitr, this was supposed to be a particularly profitable time for the traders. Instead, like the fire that burnt the Bangabazar Shopping Complex to the ground just 12 days ago, traders of New Dhaka Super Market are now pondering how to survive.

Yasin Arafat, one of the shop owners at the market, took over the business from his ailing father ten years ago. Despite the initial struggles, after years of trial and error, Arafat managed the tricks and trades of the business.

His father's death eight months ago came as a big blow to him and her mother, Rumiya Begum, who helps her to run the shop.

But yesterday's fire cut them off from their only source of income. All their goods along with the shop have been burnt to ashes in the fire.

The scene outside the Yasin Veil House was heart-wrenching. The mother and son were seen crying uncontrollably.

"My father had been running this business here for 22 years. After he fell ill, I took over the responsibility. But now, the fire has destroyed our dreams," said Arafat trying hard to hold back tears.

Rumiya Begum said she has no idea how to cope with the loss.

Photo: Palash Khan

"Our decorated and cherished shop no longer exists. We cannot even recognise it anymore. All of our dreams have gone up in flames."

The owner of another affected store, Nazifa Veil House, Saiful Islam, shared similar experience. Everything in his store has turned to ash. He is worried about how to pay his employees' salaries and bonuses.

The fire that started at 5:40am yesterday was contained after 3 and a half hours' effort by 30 fire-fighting units. Teams from army, navy and air force also took part in the operation.

However, the fire was fully extinguished this morning. An investigation committee is set to be formed today to investigate the source of the fire, and to measure the extent of the damage.

Traffic movement also resumed in the New Market area.

As the fire was successfully extinguished earlier, regular movement of vehicles began from 6:00am today, said a police official.

Meanwhile, cleaners from the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) have started cleaning debris and removing damaged clothing from the area.

Traders are looking to reopen their shops after the cleaning.

Maruf Hossain, convener of Dhaka New Super Market Beboshayee Samity (Dakshin), said that according to their primary assessment, around 500 shops were affected, of which 280 to 300 were completely burnt down.