Miscreants set fire to the pitha (rice cake) factory of woman entrepreneur Nipa Islam in Shibpur, Narsingdi, on Friday night, reducing everything to ashes.
Around 3:00 a.m. on Friday night, unknown attackers poured petrol and set the factory ablaze. The fire quickly spread to her living quarters and four other nearby rooms, destroying the pitha-making factory, equipment, furniture, and other materials.
About three and a half years ago, Nipa Islam began her journey.
She posted photos of her handmade nakshi pitha on Facebook as a hobby.
This initial activity later grew into a small Factory.
Additionally, the posts attracted online orders.
Encouraged by the response, she became an entrepreneur with support from her mother and brother.
She opened a Facebook page named ‘Pitha Ghar’.},{
She set up a production unit at her home.
Currently, 43 men and women work there.
She sells pitha worth Tk 8–10 lakh per month.
The fire has destroyed the source of her livelihood and her dreams. On Saturday around noon, Nipa filed a case against unknown persons at Shibpur Police Station. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kohinoor Mia confirmed the filing of the case to Prothom Alo.
Nipa Islam, daughter of the late Afsar Uddin of Westpara near the Shibpur bus stand, completed her Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) in Business Studies in 2018. She did not pursue further education and remains unmarried. She supports her ailing mother and runs the household for her disabled brother with the income from online pitha sales.
According to the Fire Service and local sources, the blaze started in a room of Nipa’s house around 3:00 a.m.
It rapidly spread to four adjacent rooms.
Two units from the Shibpur Fire Service arrived promptly.
They brought the fire under control after about an hour.
By then, the fire had reduced the factory, machinery, and other belongings to ashes.
Nipa Islam said the room where the fire was set had no gas or electricity connection, ruling out an accident. Her brother had been working in an adjacent room until 2:00 a.m., and the fire broke out at 3:00 a.m. She believes petrol was poured from the rear of the room. “I had no enmity with anyone. I don’t understand who burned my dreams. Now I don’t even have a plate to eat rice—everything is gone,” she said.
Local residents noted that Nipa’s nakshi pitha had gained nationwide recognition. Besides becoming self-reliant, she had created employment for many women through hard work. Recovering from this setback will be difficult, they added.
Shibpur Fire Service Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Saiful Islam said, ‘We reached the spot quickly after receiving the call. We controlled the fire in about an hour. We do not know the exact cause yet. The full extent of the damage will be known after investigation. Preliminary estimates place the loss at least Tk 10 lakh.’ Additionally, Factory facilities nearby are included in the assessment.
OC Kohinoor Mia of Shibpur Police Station stated that the woman entrepreneur markets traditional nakshi pitha and other varieties through her Facebook page “Pitha Ghar.” Police are investigating the fire. If it is confirmed to be intentional rather than accidental, those involved will be identified and brought to justice.