A major fire in Gauripur municipality of Mymensingh destroyed the historic Jhaljhal Cinema Hall and at least 20 shops, including several nearby business establishments. The blaze broke out at around 2:15am on Wednesday, when the area was largely quiet, and quickly spread through the surrounding commercial premises.
The fire was first reported in the vicinity of the cinema hall. After being alerted, four units of the Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to the scene and began firefighting operations. After more than an hour of sustained efforts, the flames were brought under control at around 3:40am.
Purna Chandra Mutsuddi, assistant director of the Mymensingh Fire Service, confirmed the incident. He said several businesses located beside the cinema hall were completely destroyed. Among them were an LPG cylinder storage facility, a decoration shop and a second-hand clothing shop.
Fire Service officials said their preliminary assessment suggested that the blaze may have originated from the cylinder storage facility adjacent to the cinema hall. However, this remains an initial assessment, and the precise cause of the fire has not yet been established. A detailed investigation will be required to determine how the fire started and how it spread so quickly.
The incident has caused considerable concern in the area because the affected businesses were located close to one another. A fire can spread rapidly in a densely packed commercial setting, particularly when combustible materials or gas cylinders are present. The presence of an LPG storage facility beside other businesses added another potential hazard for firefighters working to contain the flames.
Jhaljhal Cinema Hall is not simply a commercial establishment in Gauripur. The cinema operated from an old historic zamindar house and had long been associated with the town’s local heritage. Its destruction therefore represents a loss to the area’s commercial and cultural landscape as well as to the businesses that were directly affected.
The fire also caused extensive damage to shops and their stored goods. For local traders, the loss of merchandise, equipment and business premises could have a significant financial impact. However, the exact scale of the losses remains unknown at this stage.
The Fire Service said the total financial damage would be determined after an assessment and investigation. Officials are also expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the fire, including its point of origin and the factors that allowed the flames to spread to nearby establishments.
No detailed information about casualties was immediately available following the incident. Firefighters’ efforts ultimately brought the blaze under control before it could spread further, but the destruction of the cinema hall and numerous shops has left the affected commercial area severely damaged.
The incident has once again highlighted the risks faced by businesses operating in close proximity to LPG storage and other potentially combustible materials. The final investigation is expected to provide a clearer picture of the cause of the fire and the extent of the resulting damage.
