Atiqul Islam, the newly elected mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), reached out to the people rendered homeless or suffering losses due to the fire broke through godown slum in the capital’s Banani, reports BSS.
The fire broke out shortly before the morning on Saturday in the slum located on the bank of Banani-Mahakhali Lake. Fire service employed 22 units to contain the fire through a frantic effort over two hours. In the meantime, many slum dwellers got their homes and belongings gutted.
Visiting the burnt slum last night, Atiqul Islam doled out relief to the families who got their belongings gutted, each of whom received a cash of Taka 2,000, 30-kg rice and daily necessaries.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Deputy Commissioner’s Office, and international organizations came forward to aid the distressed people, said Mayor Atiqul adding that he would lay some stepping stones towards the sustainable solutions to the crises slum dwellers are encountering and that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed him in this regard.
‘We have observed in the developed world that they built homes for homeless people. We are also working on that plan. We are going to introduce a card system. They will be able to stay here for different terms,’ he further said.
‘It is a crucial issue since slum dwellers are an inseparable part of the city. We also have to take into account how they can live well,’ he added.
Mayor Atiqul was accompanied by Member of Parliament Akbar Hossain Pathan Faruk, 19 no Ward Councilor Mofizur Rahman, 20 no Ward Councilor Md Nasir, and Female Councilor from the Reserved Seat Amena Begum Ranu.
