A devastating fire broke out in the Akmal Ali Ghat area under EPZ police station in Chattogram town in the early hours of today (November 17), reducing 36 shops and houses to ashes.

However, no casualties were reported in the incident.

The fire broke out around 12:05 pm at Akmal Ali Ghat near the Outer Ring Road.

Confirming the incident, Nazrul Islam, an operator at the Fire Service’s Chattogram Divisional Control Room, said he received information about the fire around 12:10 pm.

“Seven fire units from different fire stations in the city were dispatched to the spot and managed to bring the flames under control after a hectic six-hour effort around 6.10am. The fire consumed various establishments, including residential neighborhoods, restaurants, grocery stores. , scrap yards and storage spaces used by local fishermen to keep their fishing nets,” he added.

The fire originated from a mosquito coil in one of the residential quarters, Nazrul Islam confirmed, adding that investigations are underway to assess the extent of the damage and any other contributing factor.