Madhubagh slum blaze

Yet another city slum has been burnt to ashes leaving 347 families homeless and a two-and-half-year old child dead. The Madhubagh slum in Dhaka city was one of many other such shanties where CNG drivers to garments factory workers find homes.
These unplanned slums around Dhaka follow no safety rules or regulations. The concept of a slum is discouraged by City Corporation as it is. Hence everything that comes with the formation of a slum rarely follows any guidelines to prevent hazards, such as fire.
Slums are strewn with many inflammable materials apart from illegal and exposed electrical wiring. Firefighting is rendered difficult because of constricted access. The victims are living under open sky and in utter destitution. They need immediate relief followed by sympathetic visits by people in authority.
Some authority should be designated to monitor the growth of slums and sensitise the people about basic fire safety precautions.
The victims of the fire will find other slums to live in. They can only hope that such incidents do not recur in their new home. But of course there will be no guarantee, unless structures are built and measures are taken to protect the residents from fire, and appropriate ministries recognize the need for safe homes for Dhaka dwellers and create space for safer living.