Dhaka, Apr 2 (bdnews24.com) -- A fire at a furniture market destroyed at least 20 shops in the city's Panthapath area early Monday, a fire department official said.

"A furniture outlet, opposite to the Bashundhara City, caught fire around 2am on Monday, and it quickly spread to other shops," fire department control room official Shahjadi Sultana told bdnews24.com.

No casualties were reported immediately but the amount of loss was huge, she said.
Twelve fire fighting units rushed to the scene and they took three hours to take the raging flame under control.

The reason behind the blaze could not be immediately determined.

The official said a probe was needed to find out the reason.

Some owners of the gutted shops alleged that the extent of fire was higher as fire units were late to reach the scene.

Sub Inspector of Kalabagan Police Station Abdul Alim told bdnews24.com that up to 22 shops were 'completely burnt'.

The police official said most of the furniture shops in the market were made of corrugated tin and bamboo while the owners manufacture furniture using mostly wood, plastic and sponge.

"This is why the fire quickly spread," Alim said.

bdnews24.com/lh/zk/jr/1031h