Fire ravages Kamalapur slum amid Covid-19 pandemic
“Everything has turned to ashes. How will we survive now?”
At least 30 to 32 shanties were gutted in a slum as a fire broke out at Titipara Methor Potti in the Kamalapur area of the capital early on Saturday.
Monowara Begum, a beggar and resident of the slum, said, "My savings worth Tk10,000 and all other things were lost in the fire."
She could only manage to save her disabled son, but his wheelchair was lost.
"Everything has turned to ashes. How will we survive now?" said Begum, terming the fire more dangerous than the deadly Covid-19.
Other residents Rizia Begum and Muzibur faced similar losses.
"I had payments from three places and also had some savings. I work in a brickfield, what will I do now?" said 70-year-old Rizia Begum.
Lima Khanam, duty officer of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, told The Business Standard, "The fire started at 1:30 am and the firefighting units doused the blaze after around a one-hour effort."
No causalities were reported. The cause of the fire is still not known.