A woman died and several others injured as a fire broke out in a five-storey commercial building in Chitalmari upazila of Bagerhat Monday morning.
The fire broke out at Maisha Tower at about 10:00am and rapidly spread throughout the building.
Being informed, firefighting units rushed to the spot and worked tirelessly to control the blaze with support from the army and local residents.
After approximately two hours, the fire was brought under control by 12:00pm, said Md Shahabuddin, senior station officer at Bagerhat fire brigade and civil defence.
During the rescue efforts, police and fire service personnel recovered the body of a middle-aged woman from a clinic located inside the building. Identity of the deceased could not be known.
Deputy commissioner of Bagerhat Ahmed Kamrul Ahsan said that the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage would be known after investigation.
Maisha Tower, situated on the main road in Chitalmari, houses several establishments, including Sonali Bank, Agrani Bank, Bank Asia, insurance companies, a clinic, a beauty salon and various shops and showrooms.