Dhaka, Oct. 7 -- A fire has gutted Mymensingh's historic Jhalmal Cinema Hall in Gouripur, along with 15 to 20 nearby shops.

The blaze started around 2:15am on Tuesday at the cinema hall in the municipal town and was brought under control after about one and a half hours by four Fire Service and Civil Defence units.

Mymensingh Fire Service Assistant Director Purna Chandra Mutsuddi said an LPG cylinder warehouse beside the cinema hall, a decoration materials shop, a used-clothes shop and other businesses were among those burnt.

He said the fire was believed to have started at the LPG cylinder warehouse.

The cinema hall was housed in a former Zamindar mansion. The Fire Service could not immediately estimate the extent of the damage.

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