On the night of November 25, a massive fire tore through Korail shantytown in Dhaka, destroying more than 1,500 homes in just minutes. Families who had lived there for years—rickshaw pullers, garment workers, street vendors, day-laborers—lost everything. By morning, thousands were standing on ashes with nothing but the clothes they escaped in.

See the devastation here:

https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2025/11/27/devastating-fire-leaves-thousands-homeless-in-dhakas-korail-shantytown

I’m an American living in Bangladesh, and after walking through Korail today, the reality is honestly heartbreaking. There is still no proper rebuilding happening. No structured plan, no safe shelters—just people trying to survive under unstable plastic sheets as winter approaches.

Mothers are cooking on dirt floors. Children are sleeping beside debris. Families are digging through what used to be their homes, hoping someone will help them rebuild. They’ve received some blankets and food, but blankets don’t rebuild their lives.

Korail isn’t just where these families live—it’s where they work, where their kids go to school, and where their entire support system exists. Moving them elsewhere would destroy their ability to earn and survive. They need their homes back where they were.

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Sajib’s Family — One of Hundreds

I met Sajib today.

He and eight family members lived in a tiny 120 sq ft room. Their entire home burned down. Now they sleep under scraps of plastic tied to bent metal poles. Their story isn’t special here—hundreds of families are in the same situation, waiting desperately for someone to help them rebuild something real.

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Cost to Rebuild One Home: $1,375 USD

Each home is about 120 sq ft.

Breakdown:

1. Structure – $540

Brick walls + concrete floor (plastered for safety).

2. Roof – $150

Fire-safer GI sheet roof with metal framing.

3. Doors & Windows – $80

One secure door + window with grill.

4. Private Toilet – $210

Toilet pan + small septic/bio tank + plumbing.

5. Shower Area – $80

Simple bathing corner with drain.

6. Kitchen Platform – $65

Small cement cooking counter.

7. Electrical – $65

Safe wiring, breaker, light, fan point, sockets.

8. Water Access – $60

One tap + small indoor water drum.

9. Fire Safety & Supervision – $125

Sand bucket, shared extinguisher, and on-site supervision.

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Your donation goes directly into materials and labour to rebuild safe, permanent homes for the families who lost everything. We will work closely with NGOs and local authorities to ensure complete transparency so that every rebuilt home is returned to the verified family who lived there—not landlords or middlemen.

A home is their starting point. With your support, these families can finally rebuild their lives—safely, securely, and with their dignity and livelihoods restored.