Trader burnt to death as 3 shops gutted

A trader in Community Bazar in Kalmegha union under Pathorghata upazila of Barguna district was burned to death early yesterday, and at least three shops were gutted in a fire at the bazar.

The victim was identified as Md Ibrahim, 22, son of Abdus Salam Sharif of Ghutabasa village under the upazila, said SM Ziaul Haque, officer-in-charge (OC) of Pathorghata Police Station.

Ibrahim owned a computer shop and also provided flexi-load services from his business establishment, locals said.

"The trader was burned to death while he was sleeping in his shop during the fire. We recovered the body from the spot and sent it to Barguna General Hospital for autopsy," the OC said.

An unnatural death (UD) case filed with the police station in this regard, he added.

Police and locals said the fire started at about 4:15am and spread rapidly to the surrounding shops. Locals informed the fire service, but at least three shops were totally gutted before firefighters reached the spot.