Police suspected that the fire originated from an electric short circuit at a shoe shop in the market and soon engulfed the adjacent shops at 1:15am.

On information, two fire fighting units rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze with the help of local people at 5:00am.

The shop owners estimated the extent of loss at over Tk 50 lakh.

FIVE SHOPS GUTTED
Our CU Correspondent adds: Six shops, five dwelling houses and properties worth over Tk 5 lakh were gutted in a fire at Foillatali Bazaar in the port city early yesterday.

Fire service sources said the fire broke out at a shop at around 5:40am. The fire spread fast engulfing five semi-pucca houses and the shops.

Five fire fighting units from different fire stations in the city rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire after a one-and-half hour effort.

The fire was originated from an electric short circuit while the damages in the fire were estimated at Tk 5 lakh, fire sources said.