Businessmen complains of welding sparks

Book sellers have complained that a fire broke out in the Nilkhet book market in the capital due to the sparks created by welding machine.

Witnesses complained to Abdur Rahim, owner of Khaja Book House, that welding work was going on in a bookstore called Friends Book Corner on Tuesday evening. At this time, the shop next door, Charukola Stationery, after the spark of welding. Shortly afterwards, a fire broke out at the Charukola stationery.

He said it was not possible to put out the fire as the shop was closed. The fire spread around within moments.

'I have lost everything,' said Masood, owner of Progressive Book Corner, a shop in front of Friends Book Corner. It's all over. Tuesday was the day of the weekly closing. The owner of Friends Book Corner were repeatedly asked not to do the welding work. He did not listen to anyone.

Friends Book Corner owner Nuru Alam Chowdhury could not be reached for comment over the phone.

Russell Rahman, general secretary of Shahjalal Book Market at Nilkhet and owner of Babul Books Corner, said it is still not possible to say how much damage has been caused by the fire. All the books in 25 shops have been burnt. Each store had books worth Tk 15-20 lakh.

Raju, president of the market, said the amount of damage has not been listed yet. Dhaka Deputy Commissioner is making the list. However, there were books worth over Tk 15 lakh in each shop.

It may be mentioned that a fire broke out in Shahjalal Book Market at Nilkhet corner of the capital on Tuesday night at 8:15 pm. 10 units of fire service brought the fire under control after 1 hours effort. By then, 25 bookshops had caught fire.

Shahjahan Sikder, officer-in-charge of the media cell of the fire service, said 10 units of the fire service tried for an hour to control the fire at the Nilkhet book market. However, the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage could not be immediately ascertained.