Dhaka: A fierce fire gutted around 600 shanties in Madhya Badda area of Dhaka on Monday, leaving some 2,000 people homeless.

Fire service officials said the fire broke out at one of the shanties behind ‘Bhai Bhai Boarding’ at Kha-198 Madhya Badda at about 12:55 pm.

On information, 11 fire-fighting units rushed in to douse the blaze. The fire was brought under control at about 1:55 pm and it was fully doused at about 5:00 pm.

However, there was no report of any injury in the incident.

Badda thana OC Abdul Jalil said the fire originated from a small makeshift house and it then engulfed other small houses one after another. The two-storey tin-roofed ‘Bhai Bhai Boarding’ was mostly damaged in the fire.

Residents of the small makeshift houses first tried to bring the fire under control. Failed, they later informed the fire-fighters, the OC said.

He said nearly 600 shanties were gutted in the fire, but there was no causality.

Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence Brig Gen Mohammad Ali said it could not yet be ascertained what actually caused the fire.

He said a three-member committee will be formed to probe the incident.

Osman Gani said he and his four brothers had constructed the small makeshift houses on their ancestral land and rented out those to nearly 2,000 low-income people.

After visiting the spot, Dhaka District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) Md Anwarul Islam said the district administration will take initiatives to help the homeless people as per the existing rules.