Twelve Houses Reduced to Ashes in Tragic Kurigram Fire

A catastrophic fire swept through Ghoriyal Danga Union in Rajarhat Upazila, Kurigram, on Saturday evening, reducing twelve homes across five families to ashes and destroying property worth over 3 million Bangladeshi taka.

The blaze erupted in Ward No. 5 of Char Gatiasham village, engulfing the homes of Hanif Ali and his three sons, along with four other families. Witnesses reported that the fire spread with alarming speed, leaving residents with little time to salvage their belongings.

Former Union Parishad member of Char Gatiasham, Shahidul Islam, confirmed the incident, stating that smoke was first spotted around 7:00 pm. “By the time people tried to react, the flames had already consumed the houses. The fire service arrived shortly after being alerted and managed to bring the blaze under control,” he said.

While the exact cause of the fire remains unverified, several local residents suspect that an electrical short circuit may have triggered the disaster. Authorities are currently investigating the origin of the fire.

Rajarhat Upazila Executive Officer, Al Imran, said that the administration has been informed of the incident. “Preliminary relief, including blankets and food, has been provided to the affected families. Tomorrow, our team will visit the homes to assess the damage and arrange further government assistance,” he added.

The fire has left the families not only homeless but also financially devastated. Local volunteers and neighbours have already begun providing temporary shelter and essential supplies to help those affected cope with the loss.

The preliminary assessment of the damage is summarised in the table below:

The incident underscores the urgent need for improved fire safety measures and electrical inspections in rural housing clusters, where high-density structures and outdated wiring often exacerbate such disasters.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation, and community leaders are urging residents to take precautionary steps to prevent similar tragedies in the future.