Dhaka: At least 185 shanties were gutted today in two separate incidents of fire in the city's Shahi Masjid Slum at Gabtoli and BRB Slum at Bhashantek. Fire in both the slums was brought under control and no casualties were reported.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, in Gabtoli, the fire originated in the Shahi Masjid Slum around 03:00 am today and was brought under control around 04:36 am with one hour and 15 minutes intense efforts, as stated by Md Anwarul Islam, media officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSDC). The fire gutted 150 shanties, a hotel, a photocopy shop, a mill, and one bus, as reported by the duty officer of Fire Control Room, Rashed Bin Khalid.
Upon receiving information, firefighting units rushed to the scene within four minutes. Eight fire engines from Kalyanpur, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, and Tejgaon fire stations were involved in dousing the flame. The cause of the fire and extent of damage could not be ascertained immediately.
In Bhashantek, a fire broke out in the BRB Slum at 11 am today and was brought under complete control around 12:35 pm, gutting 35 shanties, Khalid said. The fire originated from a PGP gas cylinder, with the extent of damage estimated at Tk 30 lakh.