Gofran Biswas Palash, Kalapara (Patuakhali)

Some 31 business establishments were gutted in a massive fire at Mahipur fishing port in Patuakhali. The fire incident took place at Mohipur, the country's second fishing port, on Friday (April 5) around 8 pm. In this incident, the damage of 3 crore taka has been initially determined by the affected fishing and fishing trade association.

After the incident, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md. Mohibbur Rahman MP rushed to the accident site from Dhaka. He handed over two bundles of wave tin, cash of Tk 6 thousand and Eid items on behalf of the Chief Minister to the affected traders. He was accompanied by Kalapara UNO Md. Rabiul Islam, Upazila Awami League Secretary Abdul Motaleb Talukder, Senior Vice President Principal Shahidul Islam Biswas, Kuakata Municipal Mayor Md. Anwar Hossain Howlader and others.

According to sources, shortly after the fire started from an electrical short circuit around 8 pm on Friday, black smoke spread across the entire fish port. At that time, the locals tried to bring the fire under control. Later, two units of the fire service arrived and brought the fire under control after 2 hours of effort. However, before the fire was brought under control, 29 fish farms, 1 grocery shop and 1 tea shop were burnt down.

Kalapara Fire Service Civil Station Team Leader Elias said that two units of the firefighting team rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control. The victims claim that the damage caused by this fire will exceed 3 crore taka.

Didar Uddin Ahmed Masum, President of Mahipur Fishery Traders Association, said that the fishermen have become helpless in this incident of fire. Initially, the loss of 3 crore taka has been determined by the affected fishermen.