Fire races through clothing market in Bangladesh capital

A massive fire engulfed a popular clothing market and spread to markets and other small buildings in the Bangladeshi capital on Tuesday. No casualties have been reported so far.

The fire started in Dhaka’s Bangabazar Market at 6:10 a.m. local time and firefighters from 47 units are battling to put out the blaze, fire service official Rafi Al Faruk told The Associated Press by phone.

It continued to rage six hours after it began. Anwarul Islam, another fire service official, said he did not know how it came from.

Many shopkeepers in Bangabazar Market cried; they are hoping for good business ahead of Islam’s biggest holiday, Eid al-Fitr, later this month.

“I have two shops here. Everything is gone,” Mohammed Mohsin said through tears. “All my capital was bought here. Why did God punish me in this way?”

Many traders tried to save their goods but failed as the fire spread quickly.

Fires are common in commercial premises in Bangladesh due to lack of supervision and lack of fire safety regulations. But the country’s garment industry, which has been plagued by devastating fires, has grown over the past decade.