A tragic fire at a shop in Kalihati upazila, Tangail, has claimed the life of 60-year-old businessman Gofur Ali. The blaze completely destroyed all goods within the shop.
The incident occurred on Monday, 1 December, in the Kaguzipara Bazar area of Balla Union. Gofur Ali, a resident of Dattagram and son of Habibur Rahman, was reportedly trapped inside as the fire spread rapidly. Eyewitnesses said he was unable to escape despite attempts to put out the flames. His body was recovered after the fire was brought under control, with initial reports indicating death due to smoke inhalation and heat exposure.
Local trader Kamrul Islam and market committee president Md Fazlu Talukder stated that smoke was first noticed rising from the oil shop around 12:30 pm. They attempted to extinguish the fire but were unable to save Gofur Ali. Fire service personnel arrived promptly and brought the blaze under control within approximately ten minutes.
Russel Mia, an official from the Fire Service, reported that goods worth between two and 2.5 lakh taka were destroyed in the fire. No adjacent shops were affected. Preliminary investigations suggest that a short circuit may have sparked the fire.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Deceased | Gofur Ali, 60 |
| Date & Time | Monday, 1 December, around 12:30 pm |
| Location | Kaguzipara Bazar, Balla Union, Kalihati, Tangail |
| Cause | Suspected short circuit |
| Damages | Goods worth 2–2.5 lakh taka destroyed |
| Casualties | 1 (shop owner) |
| Response | Fire controlled within 10 minutes; no other shops damaged |
| Eyewitnesses | Local traders and market committee members |
Authorities have urged shop owners to ensure proper electrical safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The local administration is investigating the exact cause of the fire.
This incident has highlighted the risks faced by traders in crowded marketplaces, where small electrical faults can quickly escalate into fatal fires.