Korail Dhaka 2024 © FEMNET ⁇ Sina Marx 28 November 2025 Fire in the informal district of Korail in Dhaka – thousands of textile workers homeless A serious fire broke out in the informal district of Korail in Dhaka on 25 November. Around 1,500 homes were destroyed or damaged, and around 6,000 people lost their homes, including many textile workers. The fire hit the residents in an already tense situation, just a few days after an earthquake shook the region. On Tuesday evening, November 25, a heavy fire broke out in the informal district of Korail in the Mohakhali district of Dhaka. Korail is one of the most densely populated areas of the capital. Around 60,000 to 80,000 people live there, many of whom are climate refugees who have migrated from other regions of Bangladesh before the consequences of climate change or from economic hardship. The district is located between the wealthy districts of Gulshan and Banani and is surrounded by high-rise buildings. Even in these adjacent areas, the strong smoke development was felt. According to the fire brigade, about 1,500 houses were destroyed or damaged. After initial feedback from our partner organisations, around 6,000 people have lost their homes. According to those affected, there are also numerous textile workers: More than 3,000 will be affected, including over 1,500 members of our NGWF partner union. The extinguishing work was extremely difficult. Evening traffic made it more difficult for the emergency services to reach the area, and narrow streets within the district made it even more difficult to get to work. Media reports that it took up to 16 hours for the fire to be completely extinguished. There are no official reports of deaths or serious injuries. Many residents searched for belongings in the rubble the following day. Many families had to spend the night outside. According to current information, the cause of the fire is still unclear. Earthquake a few days earlier rocked region Just three days before the fire, an earthquake had shaken the region, killing at least nine people. Many people in Dhaka's informal settlements live in precarious conditions anyway. Uncertain construction methods, tight buildings and a lack of infrastructure mean that even relatively moderate vibrations can have rapid, serious consequences for the residents. Against this background, the Great Fire of Korail hits the population in an already fragile situation and exacerbates the difficult living conditions of many families in Dhaka even further. We are looking forward to any support through our Solifonds, which directly helps those affected on site. Every donation counts Update: 12.12.2025:Your donation is coming! Thanks to your support, our local partners were able to act quickly: NGWF employees distribute food, hygiene products and warm blankets – helping 100 affected workers and their families directly. Photos: © NGWF
