The fire in Dhaka's Chawkbazar area [Source: AP News]
A devastating fire raced through densely packed buildings in a centuries-old district in Bangladesh’s capital, killing at least 81 people.
The fire in Dhaka’s Chawkbazar area was mostly under control after more than 10 hours of frantic firefighting efforts.
About 50 people were injured, with some critically burned.
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The district dating to the Mughal era 400 years ago is crammed with buildings separated by narrow alleys, with residences commonly above shops, restaurants or warehouses on the ground floors.
Denizens of the Muslim-majority nation throng to Chawkbazar each year for traditional goods to celebrate iftar, when the daily fast is broken during Ramadan.
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