A fire gutted 33 homes in Jelepara, a fishing community in Cox’s Bazar’s Kutubdia, early today, leaving affected families with heavy losses.
TBS Report
23 October, 2026, 04:15 pm
Last modified: 23 October, 2026, 04:19 pm
A fire destroyed 33 homes in Jelepara, a fishing community in Ali Akbar Dale union of Kutubdia Upazila in Cox's Bazar, early today (23 October).
The fire reportedly originated at the house of a local resident, Didar Joldas, before spreading to other houses in the densely populated neighbourhood, said local resident Babul.
After alerting the Fire Service and Civil Defence, locals tried to extinguish the flames by themselves. Two firefighting teams and locals eventually brought the fire under control after nearly two hours, said Sohel Ahmed, station officer of Kutubdia Fire Service Station.
He also said 33 semi-permanent and permanent houses were gutted in the fire, which, he said, they suspect may have originated from a cooking stove.
Most of the victim families said they lost everything they had in the fire, leaving them destitute.
Akhtar Kamal Sikder, acting chairman of Ali Akbar Dale Union Parishad, said he had visited the affected area.
As the houses were densely packed in a single row, at least 32-33 homes were burnt down, he said.
He further said that initiatives were being taken to provide emergency assistance to the affected families.