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Massive Blaze Rips Through Dhaka’s Korail Slum — About 1,500 Homes Destroyed, Thousands Displaced

The Korail shantytown in Dhaka was hit by a major fire on Tuesday evening that burned or damaged about 1,500 makeshift homes and left thousands displaced. Firefighters said it took roughly 16 hours to control the blaze, and no fatalities had been reported as of Wednesday. Korail — home to approximately 60,000 families and spanning more than 65 hectares — sits between the affluent Gulshan and Banani neighbourhoods, where narrow alleys hampered emergency access. Many residents are migrants or climate refugees who rely on low-paid daily work.

12:28 PM, 11/27/2025Society
Massive Blaze Rips Through Dhaka’s Korail Slum — About 1,500 Homes Destroyed, Thousands Displaced

A fierce fire swept through the densely populated Korail shantytown in Dhaka on Tuesday evening, burning or damaging roughly 1,500 makeshift homes and leaving thousands without shelter, officials said. No deaths or serious injuries had been reported as of Wednesday.

Fire department officer Rashed Bin Khalid said crews took about 16 hours to bring the blaze under control after it began late Tuesday. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, director of the fire service, confirmed the scale of the damage and said emergency teams faced access problems because narrow alleys hindered firefighting efforts.

Heavy smoke and flames spread through the settlement overnight, forcing residents to flee and later dig through rubble to recover belongings. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as families searched for valuables and temporary shelter.

Official figures indicate the Korail settlement is home to some 60,000 families and covers more than 65 hectares (160 acres). The informal community sits between Dhaka’s affluent Gulshan and Banani neighbourhoods and is surrounded by high-rise apartments and office buildings.

Many Korail residents are migrants from rural Bangladesh or described as climate refugees, drawn to the capital by a lack of opportunity and pushed by climate-driven disasters. In Dhaka, which had an estimated population of 10.2 million in 2024, hundreds of similar shantytowns persist where people survive on low-paid daily labor such as driving rickshaws or working as domestic helpers and cleaners.

Humanitarian concerns: With thousands displaced, urgent needs include temporary shelter, clean water, medical attention and assistance to replace lost documents and essential belongings. Local authorities and aid groups will likely be called on to coordinate relief and recovery efforts in the coming days.

What happened next: Fire investigators and local officials are expected to assess the cause and full extent of the damage. In the short term, responders face the twin challenges of providing immediate relief and improving access for emergency services in densely packed informal settlements.

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Massive Blaze Rips Through Dhaka’s Korail Slum — About 1,500 Homes Destroyed, Thousands Displaced - CRBC News