A devastating fire engulfed the sprawling Korail Slum on the evening of 25 November 2025, destroying or severely damaging approximately 1,500 shanties and displacing thousands of residents. The blaze, which took over 16 hours to fully extinguish, has once again highlighted the precarious living conditions faced by urban slum dwellers in the Bangladeshi capital.
Fire Erupts in Densely Populated Slum
The inferno began around 5:15 PM local time, prompting an emergency response from the city’s Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD). Nineteen to twenty firefighting units were dispatched, but access was hindered by traffic congestion and the slum’s narrow, crowded alleys. Residents reported that the slum’s tightly packed dwellings — mostly constructed of tin, bamboo, and wood — contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
Though the fire was brought under nominal control after approximately five hours, it took until early Wednesday morning to fully extinguish smouldering embers.
The Toll: Homelessness and Loss
- ~1,500 homes destroyed or severely damaged.
- Tens of thousands of residents rendered homeless, many of whom are climate refugees or migrants from rural areas.
- No casualties have been reported so far.
- Survivors were seen salvaging any possessions they could recover from the debris.
One resident described losing years of savings and household essentials in the flames, while others returned home from work to find their entire homes destroyed.
Relief Efforts Underway
Local authorities, NGOs, and relief agencies have mobilized to support affected families. Key relief measures include:
- BRAC announced an emergency aid package worth BDT 5 million for affected households and set up donation channels for public support.
- The Department of Disaster Management, in collaboration with municipal agencies, distributed food packets, blankets, mosquito nets, and other essentials to affected families.
- Ongoing challenges include the slum’s maze-like layout, limited access for aid delivery, and the urgent need for temporary shelters as cold nights set in.
Underlying Issues: Vulnerabilities of Urban Slums
Experts note that Korail’s tragic fire is symptomatic of broader issues in Dhaka’s slums, including:
- Overcrowding and densely packed dwellings
- Poor construction materials prone to catching fire
- Unsafe electrical wiring
- Blocked or inaccessible roads, which hinder emergency response
Korail, located between affluent neighborhoods such as Gulshan and Banani, starkly illustrates the contrast in urban living conditions, underscoring structural inequalities in Dhaka’s cityscape.
Investigation and Future Measures
In response to the disaster, the Fire Service has formed a five-member investigative committee tasked with determining the cause of the fire and submitting a report within 15 working days. Authorities and civil society groups are also under pressure to implement long-term preventive measures, including:
- Enforcing stricter building codes
- Upgrading infrastructure
- Expanding access roads
- Providing safer housing alternatives for slum residents
The blaze at Korail is a stark reminder of the urgent need for sustainable urban housing solutions in rapidly growing cities like Dhaka. While relief efforts continue, thousands of displaced residents face an uncertain winter, emphasizing the critical importance of both immediate aid and long-term urban planning reforms to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
