A major fire destroyed goods stored in 26 textile waste warehouses in Bilashnagar, Fatullah, in Narayanganj district, early on Monday. The fire broke out at around 2am on Sunday night in Fatullah, under Narayanganj Sadar upazila. Seven firefighting units brought the blaze under control after nearly one and a half hours of efforts. No casualties were reported, but the incident is feared to have caused substantial financial losses for local traders.
According to the Fire Service and eyewitnesses, the fire originated at a textile waste warehouse in the Bilashnagar area. Within a short time, the flames spread to neighbouring warehouses, where large quantities of discarded fabric and other materials were stored. The rapid spread of the fire raised concerns among local residents and traders.
After receiving the report, seven firefighting units from the Shibu Market, Narayanganj and Hajiganj fire stations rushed to the scene and began efforts to extinguish the blaze. Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control at around 3.30am. However, by that time, goods stored in all 26 warehouses had been destroyed.
Abdullah Al Arefin, deputy assistant director of the Narayanganj Fire Service, said the preliminary assessment suggested that an electrical short circuit might have caused the fire. However, the exact cause has yet to be confirmed. The authorities are assessing the extent of the damage, he added.
Imran Hossain, the owner of several of the affected warehouses, told journalists that the fire broke out suddenly in one warehouse during the night before spreading rapidly to the others. He said all the goods stored in the warehouses had been destroyed.
According to Imran’s estimate, the total financial loss could exceed Tk 10 million. However, this figure has not yet been verified by the authorities, and the official assessment of the damage remains pending.
Textile waste warehouses typically store fabric scraps and other leftover materials generated during garment production. These materials are traded for reuse and various other purposes. As a result, a fire affecting several warehouses at once can cause significant losses for traders by destroying their stored goods and working capital.
The incident in Bilashnagar has raised concerns about the vulnerability of warehouses storing combustible materials. Inspecting electrical connections and ensuring adequate fire safety arrangements could help reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future.
The final extent of the losses will become clearer once the authorities complete their assessment. Further findings may also establish whether an electrical short circuit was responsible for the fire.
