40 shops gutted

Fire gutted 40 shops at a kitchen market in Puranbazar of the district town early Monday. Victims said two traders Farhad and Shohag set fire to the market to realise money from the insurance company as they insured their shops recently. On information, fire fighters rushed in and put out the blaze after two hours of hectic efforts with the help of police and local traders. Police arrested Shohag in this connection. The affected shop owners claimed that the extent of loss caused by the fire could go upto Tk 50 lakh.