366 shanties burnt to ashes
Locals assist fire fighters trying to douse a fire which destroyed at least 366 shanties at Shahidertek Slum in the capital's Agargaon yesterday.Photo: STAR
At least 366 shanties were gutted in a fire that broke out at Shahidertek Slum in the capital's Agargaon yesterday. However, no casualty was reported as most of the slum dwellers were out working while some children and aged persons who were inside managed to escape on time, said witnesses. On information, nine fire trucks from the fire service headquarters and Mirpur and Mohammadpur stations rushed to the spot and, after frantic efforts, brought the fire under control around 1:50pm. Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police said they had shifted goods and three detainees of an adjoining police station to a nearby mosque. One slum dweller, Abul Hossain, said some shanties and goods kept on an adjoining road by the slum dwellers for safety during the fire were looted. Mohammapur Fire Station Senior Station Officer Abdul Alim said some slum dwellers alleged that the fire spread from an earthen stove in the shanty of one Rashid around 12:20pm. Rashid is one of 108 men who erected the tin and wood structures on government land and rented those out, he said. A good portion of the shanties are situated over some wetlands, being filled with sand by a government organisation. Some slum dwellers said the shanties were deliberately set on fire to evict them and fill up the wetlands. The fire service listed 366 families which lost nearly all of their belongings.
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