Harsh Reality of Life in Dhaka’s Slums

In the aftermath of a devastating fire that recently ravaged the Mahakhali Saat Tola slum, residents like Sumi, 36, a mother of two, are struggling to make ends meet and find any semblance of festivity. Sumi, who has spent her entire life in the slum, shared, “My husband works hard, but his earnings barely cover our rent of Tk 5,000. I want to educate my daughters, but how can I? If I go to work, there’s no one to protect them from the dangers here.”

Her story is one of many in the slum, where men work as rickshaw pullers, CNG drivers, or garment laborers, while women take on domestic work—all for wages that barely sustain them. "Many days, we can't even afford two meals," Sumi added.

Munzura, 45, another resident, recently lost everything in the fire. “How can we think of celebrating Eid when we are still fighting for survival?” she questioned. "There’s no compensation, no help—just empty promises."

Even those employed in households see little relief. “My employer didn’t give any Eid bonus,” said Munzura. “They demand more work but pay less. We have no choice but to endure.”

Taslima, 40, who runs a small vegetable shop in the slum market, described the precarious nature of their existence. “These homes and shops were built on government land, but now they’re treated as private property. We pay rent to outsiders who don’t even live here.”

Dhaka's slums have been growing rapidly. According to the 2014 Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) census, the city had 3,394 slums housing around 650,000 people. The 2023 BBS report shows that many slum dwellers have migrated from rural areas like Barisal, Mymensingh, Kishoreganj, Cumilla, and Netrokona, fleeing poverty, river erosion, and lack of job opportunities. The number of slums and their residents has only increased, with no clear solutions in sight for their struggles.