Over 350 people who used to live in Kalyanpur's Notun Bazar slum, which was burned down in a devastating fire on October 30, are now spending their days under the open sky.

While visiting the place, this correspondent found some people sleeping where their homes used to stand, some sitting under trees with their families, and some others roaming around their former homes.

Hadis Bepari (75), a resident of the slum for the last 27 years, said he and his family have been living on the streets for the last four days.

"We did get relief materials and Tk 2,000 cash from the local MP, but we cannot rebuild our house with this," a grief-stricken Hadis said. He urged the government to arrange a small loan facility for the affected. According to him, at least Tk 30,000 is needed to build a house.

"Back in the days, we used to get loans from NGOs and local multi-purpose co-operatives in case any accident took place in the slum. But this time, due to the Covid-19 situation, we aren't getting any of that," he said.

Most of the slum-dwellers echoed these sentiments and urged influential people to come forward and stand by them.