Two businessmen and a salesman have died after a gas cylinder explosion sparked a fire in a fuel shop in Hatiya upazila of Noakhali district.

The dead were identified as oil trader Mohibul Hasan Nipu, 35, Khaled Mahmud, 40, and Rahmatullah, 36, a salesman at Nipu’s shop, reports FT.

The fire broke out at Nipu's shop in Chairman Ghat around 10:00 pm on Monday, said Hatiya Police Station chief Abul Khair.

Nipu and Rahmatullah were burnt to death inside the shop, while Khaled was taken initially to Noakhali General Hospital before being shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

He passed away in hospital care at 6:00 am on Tuesday, said the report.

Khaled had 80 per cent of his body burnt, said Syed Mohiuddin Abdul Azim, resident medical officer of Noakhali General Hospital.

At least 15 shops, including some more fuel shops, were also burnt in the incident.

Three units of the Fire Service and Civil Defence from Maijdi and Subornochar worked for two hours and tamed the flames at 12:00 am on Tuesday.

The bodies were sent to Noakhali General Hospital morgue for autopsy, said SI Abdul Halim of Chairman Ghat Police Outpost.