300 Bangladeshis lose home after fire in Greece camp

A fire on Sunday burnt the residential camps of around 300 Bangladeshi migrants in Greece, forcing them to take shelter in others' camps.

The incident took place in Manolada area of Elis -- some 400km off the Greek capital Athens.

"The fire gutted all the 38 temporary shelters of the Bangladeshi nationals who lived near an agricultural farm," Bishwagith Paul, first secretary (Labour) of the Bangladesh embassy in Greece, told The Daily Star yesterday.

The possible source of the fire as suspected by the migrants is gas burners they use for cooking, he said.

"The incident took place in the afternoon when the migrants were working in the field. Thus, luckily they faced no physical harm, but their belongings, including passports, ID cards and clothes, were burnt to ashes," Bishwagith said.

A team led by Bangladesh Ambassador to Greece Ashud Ahmed yesterday visited the area, met the Bangladeshis and assured them of assistance, said a statement from the Bangladesh embassy.

During the visit, the migrants requested the ambassador to reissue their passports free of cost. Bangladesh community leaders, meanwhile, have assured the victims of extending a helping hand.

Ambassador Ashud Ahmed held a meeting with the local mayor and requested him to arrange brick-built shelters for the affected Bangladeshis. The mayor assured the ambassador of providing assistance for building better housing facilities, added the statement.