Fire Breaks Out in Dhaka’s Korail Slum

A fire has broken out in the Korail slum in the Mohakhali–Gulshan area, prompting a large response from the Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Officials reported the fire at 5:22 pm on Tuesday (25 November). Following the alert, 11 fire service units were dispatched to the scene to bring the blaze under control. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Korail, one of Dhaka’s largest and oldest informal settlements, spans roughly 90 acres and is home to an estimated 80,000 residents. Firefighters say the slum’s narrow alleys and tightly packed structures often hamper access and delay response times.

The settlement has a history of frequent fire incidents. On 22 February this year, a late-night fire destroyed 61 houses, despite efforts from 10 responding fire service units. Earlier, on 18 December 2024, another blaze required the deployment of seven units to contain it.

Residents and rights groups have long expressed concern about the vulnerability of Korail’s population, where densely built homes, limited infrastructure, and high population density increase the risk of rapid fire spread.

Further details, including casualty reports and the extent of damage from Tuesday’s fire, were yet to be confirmed at the time of filing this report.