25 shops gutted in Nilphamari

Six people were also injured while trying to extinguish the blaze that started at around 4:00pm.

Witnesses said the fire broke out at the hut of Abdul Mamud, a landless, in the area and engulfed the entire area, but the market authority claimed that an electrical short-circuit sparked off the fire.

Abdul Mamud alleged two influential businessmen set fire to his hut in a bid to grab the land.

The market authorities estimated the loss at about Tk 60 lakh.

Local people brought the fire under control after three hours of frantic efforts. Later, fire fighters from Nilphamari and Domar reached the spot.