On March 7, a fire broke out at the “Shakhlo” market in the city of Bokhtar, Khatlon region. According to some estimates, six trading points belonging to Afghan entrepreneurs were destroyed. This market mainly sells equipment and spare parts for vehicles. The main entrepreneurs at the trading points are citizens of Afghanistan.
Fires at markets in the regions of Tajikistan have become frequent. In the summer of 2022, a fire at the “Faravon” market in the city of Bokhtar, Khatlon region, resulted in the death of one person and injuries to another 11. The damage from the fire was around four million somoni.
Authorities usually state that fires occur at markets due to non-compliance with fire safety regulations, but in almost all cases, issues of compensation for losses to entrepreneurs and the resumption of their activities remain a subject of disagreement between the authorities and those affected by the fire. The entrepreneurs themselves in these cases do not rule out the version of intentional arson of the markets.