The Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party, also known as Ansar-VDP, have opened an emergency relief centre inside the city’s Korail slum to support hundreds of families left destitute after the 25 November fire that swept through the densely populated settlement.
The blaze, which broke out around 5pm on 25 November, spread rapidly and burned more than a hundred homes within minutes, leaving scores of families homeless and without belongings.
Although firefighters brought the flames under control after several hours, the damage was extensive, plunging affected residents into severe humanitarian distress.
Responding to the crisis, Ansar–VDP launched an emergency relief centre at 2pm on Friday under the directive of Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, read a press release.
The centre aims to provide immediate food, water and essential assistance to help residents overcome the initial shock of the disaster.
The director general said the objective was to ensure the safety and comfort of those affected by supplying urgent humanitarian support. The initiative is being considered a vital addition to the organisation’s emergency response efforts.
The centre will distribute food twice daily to around 2,000 people for the next five days. Special measures have also been taken to address the acute need for safe drinking water, including plans to install tube wells in the area to ensure reliable access to clean water.
Officials say this will help reduce waterborne diseases and strengthen sanitation and health protection.
Many displaced families expressed relief after receiving food and essential supplies, with children, women and the elderly benefiting most from the rapid delivery of aid. Dhaka city Ansar Director Md Asadur Rahman Gani inaugurated the relief activities and is overseeing the overall operation.
Ansar–VDP said it remains committed to standing beside affected communities in times of crisis, carrying forward its humanitarian pledge that “people are for people,” read the release.
