Fire in Sitakunda roadside shops triggers hours-long gridlock on Dhaka-Chattogram highway

A fire at roadside shops selling ship-salvaged goods beside the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Sitakunda on Wednesday night (21 January) destroyed at least eight shops and triggered hours-long traffic congestion on the country's busiest highway.

The incident occurred around 9:20pm at the Chairman Ghat area near Sonargaon Filling Station under Sitakunda upazila. Local sources said the affected shops mainly sold general and electronic items salvaged from old ships.

As the fire erupted right beside the highway, vehicles were forced to stop, suspending traffic movement and triggering severe gridlock. Traffic was initially halted on the Chattogram-bound lane.

Heavy traffic builds up on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway in Sitakunda following a fire at roadside shops late Wednesday night, with vehicles moving slowly for hours. Photo: TBS

Later, movement on the Dhaka-bound lane was also suspended as firefighters collected water from the opposite side of the highway, further worsening the situation.

This led to a complete halt in traffic on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway for more than two hours, causing severe congestion and leaving passengers and drivers stranded.

The traffic jam eventually stretched over more than 50 kilometres, causing immense suffering to commuters and transport operators on the vital highway.

Firefighters work amid heavy smoke as onlookers gather at the scene of a blaze at roadside shops beside the Dhaka–Chattogram highway in Sitakunda on Wednesday night. Photo: TBS

Although traffic movement formally resumed around 12:15am, nearly three hours after the fire broke out, congestion continued to slow vehicles until around 11:30am today (22 January).

Abdullah Al Mamun, senior station officer of Kumira Fire Station, said four units from Kumira Fire Service, one unit from Port Fire Station (Nimtala), and one vehicle from the Navy Fire Service at BNS Bhatyari rushed to the scene. The fire was brought under control around 12:05am.

"No casualties were reported in the incident," he added.

A preliminary assessment suggests the fire originated from an electrical short circuit. Fire service officials estimated the damage at around Tk1 crore.

Speaking to The Business Standard around 11:30am, Abdullah Al Mamun said, "As there were flammable marine items, the fire has been reigniting intermittently from under the rubble. A team is still working at the scene to fully extinguish the fire. Until the final report arrives, the extent of the damage cannot be confirmed."