Thousands left homeless by fire in Bangladesh shantytown in Dhaka

"A fire in a densely populated and impoverished area in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka has burned or damaged 1,500 shanties, leaving thousands homeless, authorities say. No casualties were reported as of Wednesday, a day after the fierce blaze broke out at the Korail shantytown. According to Rashed Bin Khalid, a fire department officer, it took 16 hours to douse the fire, which began on Tuesday evening."

"The fire service's director, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, said about 1,500 ramshackle dwellings were burned or damaged in the blaze, and thousands became homeless. Heavy smoke blanketed the area as flames engulfed the environs overnight. According to official data, some 60,000 families, many of them climate refugees, live in the area, which covers more than 65 hectares (160 acres). The area straddles Dhaka's upscale Gulshan and Banani neighbourhoods, and it is surrounded by clusters of high-rise apartment and office buildings."

The blaze at Korail shantytown in Dhaka burned or damaged about 1,500 shanties and left thousands homeless. No casualties were reported as of Wednesday, a day after the fire began Tuesday evening. The fire took 16 hours to douse. Heavy smoke blanketed the area as flames engulfed the environs overnight. The settlement covers more than 65 hectares (160 acres) and is home to some 60,000 families, many of them climate refugees. The area straddles Gulshan and Banani and is surrounded by high-rise apartment and office buildings. Firefighters struggled to reach the site because of narrow alleys. Many residents survive on low-paid daily labour.

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