100 old clothe shops gutted

A devastating fire gutted over 100 old garment shops at Gobindaganj municipal hawkers market early yesterday. Delwer Hossain, OC at Gobindaganj police station said the fire originated from a garment store and rapidly spread to the adjoining shops. Within half an hour, more than 100 shops were burnt to ashes, he said. Goods and valuables worth over Tk 50 lakh were damaged in the fire incident, said Abdus Salam, a shop owner. Two fire units from Gaibandha district and Sonatola upazila rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control after a hectic struggle for two hours, but nothing could be saved, witnesses said.