Over 100 shops were gutted in a devastating fire at Jahur Hawkers Market adjacent to New Market in the port city early Saturday. 

Md Jashim Uddin, assistant director (media), Fire Service, said the fire broke out at 3:50 am at the market and soon spread to adjoining Jalalabad market.

Fire fighters from Agrabad, Nandankanon, Chandanpur and Kalurghat fire stations brought the blaze under control around 6 am.

The origin of the fire and the extent of losses will be known after investigation, Jashim added.

Mohammad Hossain Babul, president of Jahur Hawkers Market Traders’ Association, said many traders have become pauper as the fire burned down valuables worth Tk 3 crore.

The market will remain shut on Saturday, he said. 

The hawkers market is one of the most popular destinations of the city dwellers which houses several hundred tailoring shops, cloth shops and warehouses.