Fire guts 3 betel gardens in Jhenidah

Betel leaves on three bighas of land at Balarampur village under Kaliganj upazila of the district were gutted in a fire on Tuesday night.

The affected farmers are Isharat Ali, Bishwajit Kumar and Sabur Biswas.

Locals and Kaliganj fire service office sources said the fire might have originated from a cigarette butt or other sources at a garden and soon engulfed adjacent gardens around midnight.

On information, a fire fighting unit from Kaliganj reached the spot and brought the fire under control.

Sheikh Motiar Rahman, station master of Kaliganj fire service, said they brought the flames under control after one hour of frantic effort. The losses might reach Tk 10 lakh, he added.

Bishawajit Kumar, owner of an affected garden, said he took loan and cultivated betel leaf on one bigha of land. His losses are around Tk 4 lakh. He does not know how he will repay the loan and maintain his family.

Sabur Biswas, another affected farmer, said he had leased 17 decimals of land and spent Tk one lakh to cultivate betel. He has incurred a loss of Tk 2 lakh. Besides, he has taken loan from an NGO.

On getting information, Monowar Hossain Mollah, upazila nirbahi officer of Kaliganj, visited the spot.