Fire guts 33 homes in Cox's Bazar fishing village

A fire destroyed 33 homes, cash and essential documents in a fishing village in Kutubdia, Cox’s Bazar, early Friday, leaving residents facing uncertainty after losing their belongings.

The fire broke out around 2am in Jelepara village under Ali Akbar Dail union of Kutubdia upazila. Two Fire Service units, assisted by local residents, brought the blaze under control around 5am.

Local resident Babul said the fire originated at the house of Didar Joldas. The Fire Service was alerted, while residents also tried to put out the flames. However, the fire quickly spread to neighbouring houses because they were closely packed together.

Sohel Ahmed, an official at the Kutubdia Fire Service Station, said two units reached the scene at 2:32am after receiving the alert. By the time the fire was brought under control, 33 semi-pucca and mud houses had been destroyed.

The fire is initially suspected to have started from a cooking stove, he said.

Among those who lost their possessions was the family of Pobiron Das. His wife, Nayan Das, said they had borrowed 100,000 taka for her husband's gallbladder surgery, but the money was lost in the fire along with their other belongings, including his original degree certificate.

“They have been left with nothing,” she said.

Akhtar Kamal Sikdar, acting chairman of Ali Akbar Dail Union Parishad, said he visited the scene after receiving news of the fire.

As the houses stood in a single row, the flames spread rapidly, destroying 32 to 33 homes, he said, adding that steps were being taken to provide emergency assistance to the affected families.