Fire at Gauripur Market in Daudkandi, 25 Shops Destroyed

A devastating fire swept through Gauripur Market in Daudkandi Upazila, Comilla, in the early hours of Tuesday, 3 February, reducing 25 shops to ashes. The blaze erupted at around 4:30 a.m. in the eastern part of the market, adjacent to the Dhaka–Homna road in the Kathpotti area. Despite the concerted efforts of nine fire service units, the inferno was brought under control only after two and a half hours, by which time substantial damage had already been inflicted.

According to local traders and fire service officials, the fire originated in a furniture shop, where flames rapidly spread to neighbouring stores. “Within moments, the fire had engulfed adjacent shops. We tried to contain it, but the presence of flammable chemicals in the furniture store, particularly paints, caused the blaze to escalate uncontrollably,” explained a local eyewitness.

Initial response involved three fire service units from Daudkandi, which drew water from the nearby Gomti River to battle the flames. As the fire intensified, six additional units from Homna and Chandina Upazilas joined the operation. After two and a half hours of relentless efforts, the fire was finally brought under control at approximately 7:00 a.m.

Traders reported extensive losses across a variety of businesses. According to preliminary estimates, around ten furniture shops, one electrical and air-conditioning showroom, two auto-rickshaw garages, four grocery shops, and a warehouse storing rice and dates for Ramadan were completely destroyed. Furniture dealer Amir Hossain lamented, “Everything is gone. Just in the furniture market alone, the loss amounts to several crore taka.”

The total damage is preliminarily assessed at over 40 million taka, though final figures are yet to be confirmed.

Mohammad Idris, Additional Director of Comilla Fire Service, confirmed that nine units from Daudkandi, Homna, and Chandina collaborated to control the fire. “The exact cause of the blaze has not yet been determined,” he added.

Daudkandi Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Abdul Halim stated that police personnel, led by Gauripur Police Investigation Centre In-Charge Md. Jahangir Alam, assisted in firefighting operations and maintaining public order. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the losses.

Notably, as of the time of reporting, no officials from the Upazila administration were present at the scene.

Summary of Damaged Shops: