A day labourer’s family has been left devastated after fire gutted their home and killed 21 goats and two cows at Babuganj in Barishal early Sunday.

The fire started around 10:00pm at the house of Mujammel Haque at Shilandia village of Birshreshtha Jahangir Nagar union under Babuganj and extinguished after two hours. 

On Sunday morning, Babuganj upazila nirbahi officer Asma Ul Husna visited the home and assured the affected family of assistance.

Mizanur Rahman, Gaurnadi Fire Service and Civil Defence station officer, said that they received the information at around 10:25pm and went the spot within half an hour.

‘By the time we reached, locals extinguished the blaze. We later learned that 21 goats, two cows and the dwelling house were completely destroyed. The estimated loss may be around Tk 4 lakh,’ said the fire service official.

He added that preliminary findings suggest the fire might have originated from a mosquito coil.

People of the area said that a mosquito coil had been lit inside the cowshed to protect the animals from mosquito bites, and the fire might have started from there.

People of the area said that the incident was horrifying, saying that the cries of the burning animals left them deeply shaken.

During the visit of the house, journalist found Mujammel grieving beside the charred remains of his livestock.

Mujammel said, ‘I do not know how I will survive without the livestock. These animals were my only assets.’

He said that the blaze left him destitute. ‘Only one cow and three goats survived but rest were severely burnt.’

Mentioning that the fire has taken everything away in a moment, Mozammel said that he used to run his family by selling goats, while milk from the cows covered daily household expenses.