Pirojpur, May 09 (V7N) — A devastating fire has destroyed at least 14 shops at Shariktala Bazar in the Sadar Upazila of Pirojpur, causing an estimated loss of around Tk 1 crore.

The fire broke out suddenly on Saturday (May 9) night in one of the shops in the market area. Within minutes, the flames spread rapidly to nearby businesses, triggering panic among traders and local residents.

According to eyewitnesses and local sources, the fire may have originated from a tea shop, although the exact cause has not yet been confirmed.

Upon receiving the alert, multiple units of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to the scene and worked for an extended period to bring the blaze under control. Despite their efforts, the intensity and rapid spread of the fire made containment difficult at the initial stage.

A total of 14 shops—including pharmacies, grocery stores, decorator businesses, tea stalls, and snack shops—were completely gutted in the incident. Many shop owners reportedly lost their entire livelihood and were left devastated.

Local residents and traders have called for urgent government assistance and rehabilitation support for the affected business owners.

Authorities have said that an investigation will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the fire.

END/SMA/AJ