11 days under the open sky

At least 22 families, who lost almost everything to a devastating fire in Sonaichhari Jelepara in Sitakunda upazila, have been living under the open sky for the last eleven days in the chilling winter cold.

On January 28, seven houses, mostly tin sheds, were burned in the mysterious fire during the early hours.

This correspondent visited the area on Monday afternoon.

Some of the families were found sleeping on the floors of their burnt homes, while others were seen living under trees.

Victims of the fire hazard said they were living under the open sky as they could not manage alternative lodging.

The only support they got came from the Union Parishad, in the form of some dry food, they said.

"I went to bed around 12:30am that night," Swapna Das, one of the victims, said.

"Suddenly, I noticed the fire in front of our room and heard people screaming from outside. I tried to save our valuables, but they were already burning by then," she added.

"I couldn't touch anything. I couldn't save anything. Everything burnt to ashes within the blink of an eye."

Bishwanath Das, another victim, alleged that Shamim Hossain, a local trader, is behind the incident.

"Shamim, with the help of local anglers Durjodhan Das and Rupan Das, drove us out of the spot where we used to stretch our fishing nets in order to set up theirs."

"Once they also set fire to my net. This time, they came for our homes," Bishwanath said.

"When we tried to get out [during the fire], we found that the main gate was locked from the outside," he said.

Bishwanath also mentioned that they managed to get out through an alternative exit.

Khair Hossain, Sonaichhari Union Parishad member, suspects that the incident was a sabotage. "We have asked police to take necessary action," he told The Daily Star.

On February 4, victim Bishwanath filed a case accusing unidentified persons with Sitakunda Police Station.

However, law enforcers are yet to arrest anyone in this regard.

Suman Banik, inspector (investigation), Sitakunda Police Station, said an investigation on the incident is underway.

Contacted, Shamim Hossain refuted the allegations.

"Fake allegations have been made against me to take the whole issue to a different direction," he told this correspondent.