Madaripur, April 4 -- At least 19 shops and three houses were gutted in a fire at a market in Madaripur district headquarters early Friday.

Nur Mohammad, station officer of Madaripur Fire Service, said the fire originated from an electric short-circuit at a hardware shop in City Super Market in the early morning.

Being informed, six firefighting units from the district and nearby Shariatpur rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control after three hours of efforts, he said.

The fire-affected establishments include eight cosmetics shops, three hardware shops, three warehouses, one computer shop, other shops and three houses, the fire service official said.

One of the affected traders Mohammad Suman said the fire caused damages ...