No casualties reported immediately, says an official, adding that firefighters from 47 units were working to douse the blaze.

A major fire is burning in a popular market for cheaper clothes in Bangladesh’s capital.

The fire started at Bangabazar Market in Dhaka at 6:10am (12:10 GMT) on Tuesday but no casualties were reported immediately, Rafi Al Faruk told The Associated Press by phone.

He said firefighters from 47 units were working to douse the massive blaze.

“We have no immediate reports of any casualties,” he said.

Anwarul Islam, another fire service official, said they had no idea how the fire originated.

Fires often take place in commercial places in Bangladesh because of lax monitoring and lack of fire safety arrangement.

But conditions in the country’s huge garment industry, which experienced major disasters including devastating fires in the past, has improved significantly over the last decade.

More details awaited.