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But before that day could come, a fire broke out in a neighbouring house and ripped through the densely packed settlement between 7:00pm and 7:30pm on Monday. Scrap materials and plastic goods helped the flames spread rapidly.

“We just ran for our lives. We could not save anything,” she told this correspondent.

The family lost belongings worth over Tk 100,000, including a refrigerator, television, bed, and other furniture.

“Now we do not know where we will go. Until we find a room, we will have to stay under the flyover.”

Among the worst affected was Delwar Hossain, around 60, who lost nearly everything tied to his livelihood. He owned 10 auto-rickshaws and a garage in the slum.

Five vehicles were initially taken out, but three were later stolen amid the chaos. The rest were destroyed in the fire.

Delwar had lived on government land in the area for about 15 years and also ran 12 rental rooms. “Everything is gone,” he said, adding that residents had recently been told to clear the area after Eid.

“We were preparing to move. But the fire destroyed everything before that.”

He estimated his losses at around Tk 10 lakh and said he is now burdened with nearly Tk 5 lakh in loans.

A few metres away from Anowara under the same flyover near, Asma Begum, 40, sat with her family after losing their rented rooms.

She lived with her husband, seven daughters, and one son in two rooms for Tk 6,000 a month. Her husband works in waste collection, while she was involved in scrap-related work.

With eviction already looming, they had sent some belongings to their village home before Eid. Whatever remained was burned. “We will spend Eid under this flyover.”

The family now hopes to collect and sell discarded items to raise money and return to their village after Eid.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control around 9:35pm after nearly two hours of effort involving 15 units.

Fire Service Director Lt Col Md Azad Anwar said the control room received the alert at 7:23pm.

He said the slum had around 1,200 homes and scrap shops, with around 3,000 to 3,500 residents. Firefighters, assisted by locals, police, Rab, and army personnel, managed to contain the fire.

With no nearby water source, 15 water-carrying vehicles were brought in.

Azad said, “The cause is still unknown and will be determined after investigation. A committee will be formed in this regard.”

Authorities said no casualties or missing persons had been reported as of Monday night.

In front of the burned area, a three-member volunteer medical team treated about 60 injured people, most with burns and cuts.

Meanwhile, police detained Nazmul Hasan Moni, 27, over allegations of setting the fire.

Residents said he had a dispute with a shopkeeper and allegedly threatened to burn the slum earlier in the day. He was later beaten by locals and handed over to police.

Pallabi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Hasan Bashir said a case was being filed in which Nazmul would be shown arrested.