Fire devours DNCC Gulshan market The mysterious set fire at the city's posh areas at the Dhaka North city Corporation (DNCC) at Gulshan-1 under control after 17 hours, and but not completely doused, on Tuesday evening. Businessmen fear the incident was an act of sabotage.

The fire broke out in Gulshan 1 DNCC market around 2:00am on Tuesday. A portion of the two-storey market collapsed around dawn. There were about 600 shops inside the Gulshan-1 market set up on seven acres of land and divided into two parts.

Maj Shakil Newaj, director (operations and maintenance) of Fire Service and Civil Defence(FSCD) headquarters told media that twenty-two units of firefighters brought the fire under control partially around 7:00pm.The fire service is yet to comment on the cause of the fire. "Can't say how this massive fire broke out.

There have been no casualties, but flammable liquids and other dangerous materials are all over the place,"

Furniture shops occupy a large portion of the ground floor along with some eateries and a kitchen market on the eastern side. The businesses on the first floor traded in food products, apparels, cosmetics, ornaments, toys and electronics.

Dhaka North Mayor Annisul Haque, however, ruled out sabotage and said he suspects an electrical malfunction caused it. Though some shop owners suspect it to be an act of sabotage, the Mayor said an electrical malfunction may have caused it.

Gulshan police's Deputy Commissioner Mustak Ahmed told said  around 3:45am from the spot. The fire service said the flames started from the eastern part of the mall and later spread.

The sobbing shop owners and keepers, who rushed to the spot on hearing the news, were seen helping the firefighters.

 Abu Taleb Babul, the market committee president, told the media that it was an act of sabotage. Another shop trader had earlier said the fire was started deliberately.

Replying a query on allegations of sabotage, he said, "The mayor cannot say it; the mayor is no sabotage expert. But I think the possibility of not being a sabotage is 99 percent."

Angry traders, counting the cost of 'terrifying' blaze, attacked the fire crew at around 4:40am after they said they had run out of water. Several firefighters were injured in the incident, leaving the operation momentarily suspended.

Later, the firemen and shopkeepers removed a number of gas cylinders stored behind the kitchen market. The fire service said unavailability of a nearby water source has made it hard for them to work. Firefighters had to connect their hoses to as far as the Gulshan Lake.A trader's association leader on Tuesday claimed goods worth at least Tk 200 crore were damaged as a fire broke out in Gulshan-1 DNCC market.

National Human Rights Commission Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque fears that the incident was an act of sabotage. He spoke to businessmen and others at the spot before making his comment."It needs to be verified whether it was an act of sabotage or accident.

 People are not fools. These types of fire incidents are happening frequently which is suspicious. Why are they happening?" he said.

In response to the allegations of sabotage behins the incident, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia avoided a direct answer to reporters at spot. "Let us douse the fire first." 'Transformer blast cause behind fire'

The fire originated from a transformer blast on the south side of the market, according to Nur Mohammad, a security guard of the Gulshan DNCC Kancha Market.

 "I was on duty when I heard a big bang around 2:00am," he said. "The fire spread to the southern part in a few minutes. Then, I screamed and shouted," he added.

The owner of a store named Sports Quality in the Paka Market, Md Bilal Hossain, said "I am finished. I could not get anything out." The businessman was even contemplating ending his life. Like Bilal Hossain most of the businessmen said same that they lost everything.

Siddique, the local Awami League ward unit's general secretary, said that in 2003, the then Dhaka mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka floated a tender for the 18-storey 'Gulshan Trade Centre' without consulting the shop owners.

The contract was awarded to one Amin Associates Overseas Co, a concern of Metro Group and deal was signed, he said. It was, however, put on hold during the military-installed caretaker regime and a new deal was signed, when the Dhaka City Corporation's ownership in the venture was raised to 37 percent.

Humayun Siddique  , Vice President  of kitchen market association said the mall was build in the early 1960s and the kitchen market was established in 1982.

A five-member probe committee has been formed in connection with the fire that broke out at Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) market in the city's Gulshan area early Tuesday.The Fire Service and Civil Defense Headquarters formed the committee, headed by its deputy director (operation) Debashis Bhardan, sources at the Fire Service and Civil Defence control room said.  The committee has been asked to submit its report as early as possible, the sources added.