Sitting under the Kalshi flyover with her grandchildren beside her, 55-year-old Anowara Begum stared at the charred remains of the slum she had called home for nearly two decades -- until Monday, when a massive fire swept through the Kalshi slum in Dhaka’s Pallabi area.

More than 250 homes and dozens of shops were gutted, leaving thousands homeless just days before Eid-ul-Azha on May 28.

For many residents, the blaze destroyed not only their homes and belongings but also years of struggle, savings, and dreams built through hard labour. While some took shelter at relatives’ homes, others had nowhere to go but under the flyover near the slum.

Anowara had lived in the slum with her three children and grandchildren. The 10-member family shared a single small home. Now, they are sheltering under the flyover.

Her husband, Nasir Uddin, came to Dhaka years ago from Kishoreganj’s Karimganj in search of work. Through years of hard work, they raised their children and arranged their marriages.

“The fear of eviction had already gripped the community in recent days. Many had been struggling to find alternative housing. We requested the authorities to let us stay until after Eid. We said we would leave three days later.”

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.