Bangladesh slum fire leaves thousands homeless

admin — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 17:21:00 +0000

Flames engulf shanties after a fire broke out in Korail, one of Bangladesh’s largest and most crowded slums, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on November 25, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

A massive fire tore through one of Dhaka’s largest slums on Tuesday evening (November 25, 2025), leaving thousands of people homeless and turning rows of tin-roofed shanties into charred rubble, officials said.

The blaze started shortly after sunset in the heart of the capital, in Korail — one of Bangladesh’s largest and most crowded slums.

Home to nearly 80,000 people, the settlement sits wedged between the affluent Gulshan and Banani neighbourhoods and is flanked by clusters of upscale apartment towers. Orange flames rose into the night sky and heavy smoke blanketed the area as people fled with whatever belongings they could carry.

At least 19 fire engines were sent to tackle the inferno, Fire Service official Talha Bin Zasim said.

“Heavy traffic slowed our arrival, and once inside, the narrow lanes forced us to leave the engines at a distance,” he said. Firefighters dragged long hoses through the cramped alleys and scrambled to secure enough water, battling for more than five hours before the flames were finally brought under control.

The cause of the fire remains unclear.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, but residents said the destruction was near total. “Everything I had is gone. How will I survive now?” said Amena Begum, tears rolling down her cheeks as she stared at the charred remains of her home.

Lax regulations and poor enforcement have often been blamed for large fires in the South Asian nation that have killed hundreds of people in recent years.

Published – November 26, 2025 10:51 pm IST

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Dhaka shopping mall fire | Three arrested in connection with deadly fire that killed at least 46

admin — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 09:56:06 +0000

People offer funeral prayers for the victims who died in a restaurant blaze in Dhaka on March 1, 2024. Bangladesh firefighters said on March 1, that glaring safety lapses were responsible for a Dhaka restaurant blaze that killed 46 people, with more deaths likely among those rushed to hospital in critical condition. (Photo by AFP)
| Photo Credit: –

Bangladesh police have arrested three persons, including two owners of a restaurant, in connection with the massive fire that broke out at a shopping mall in the capital Dhaka that killed at least 46 people.

The fire broke out around 9:50 p.m. on February 29 at the restaurant named “Kacchi Bhai” on the first floor of the building, Green Cozy Cottage, and quickly spread to the upper floors that had more restaurants and a garment shop, according to fire service officials.

Two owners of an eatery called Chumuk and the manager of Kacchi Bhai restaurant were arrested on March 1, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner Kh Mahid Uddin said.

He said, “The fire started from the food shop on the ground floor of the building. The police will file a case over negligence in connection with the deaths in the fire incident.” Besides, anyone from the victim’s family can file a case if they want, said the police official.

At least 46 people were killed, and over 20 others sustained severe injuries by a devastating fire on Thursday night. Firefighters rescued 70 people, including 42 in unconscious state, from the rooftop and different floors of the seven-storey Green Cozy Cottage.

Legal action will be taken against whoever is found responsible in this incident, he added.

He said that three people arrested in this incident are being interrogated.

The building did not have permission to house restaurants.

The building had permission for office use, not restaurants and eateries, according to Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk). But the building housed eight restaurants, a juice bar and a tea and coffee shop, the report said.

Ashraful Islam, Town Planner and Director of the Detailed Area Planning (DAP) project of Rajuk said commercial approval had been taken for the building from one to seven floors. But it was only for office use. There was no approval for restaurants, showrooms or anything else.

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Bangladesh slum fire leaves thousands homeless

Dhaka shopping mall fire | Three arrested in connection with deadly fire that killed at least 46