At least 30 shops were gutted in a fire that broke out at the Hawkers’ Market in Chashara area of Narayanganj early Friday.

The fire started around 6:30 AM and was brought under control after nearly an hour’s effort by three firefighting units, said Shahjahan, senior station officer of Narayanganj Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Five people were injured while trying to douse the flames. Traders estimate losses at around Tk 1 crore.

Witnesses said the fire spread quickly due to the presence of flammable items in the market, which mostly houses clothing shops.

Munna, one of the affected traders, said he recently stocked goods worth Tk 20 lakh, most of this destroyed.

Former councillor Maksudul Alam Khorshed said the market was built with 642 tin-shed shops under a city corporation rehabilitation project.

He urged the authorities and the Chamber of Commerce to provide financial assistance and help reconstruct the damaged shops.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.