<div style="text-align: justify; "><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">The affected traders of the Bangabazar fire incident have sought interest-free loans to survive in the business and for repayment of their bank liabilities.</span><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In addition, they called on the government to develop infrastructures for business operations again at the same place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The traders of Bangabazar Market made the demand while talking to reporters in front of the damaged market on Wednesday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Monday a devastating fire gutted around 5,000 small shops in Bangabazar and its nearby markets.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Standing in front of his burnt shop, businessman Daud Mia told UNB that he took a loan of Tk 15 lakh from the bank a few days ago giving his home as collateral.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“The goods of my three shops were burnt in the fire along with other goods, I am now destitute. There is no arrangement to pay the installments. So, I am asking the government for an interest-free loan to repay the bank loan,” he said as he sobbed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The businessmen urged the government to allow setting up shops in the same place again so that the traders who have clothes in their warehouse can sell them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Authorities say an assessment is being done to determine the losses from the fire, apparently to devise a way for supporting the affected businessmen. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>