The sisters' fourteen-member family are helpless after losing everything they had in the fire that gutted 550 shanties leaving 2,500 dwellers homeless early Thursday.

They lived in the Basila Road slum with five sons and a daughter of Hawa and two sons and two daughters of Aysha and their aged parents. Their husbands had deserted them five years ago.

They had built the house with a loan of Tk 20,000 six months ago. The two sisters maintained their large family by working as domestic help. Their children are aged between 5-12 years.

Talking to The Daily Star, Hawa Begum said, "A few of our children are sick and our father aged over 80 is suffering from fever." She said she had been wandering in the city all night and morning looking for shelter.

The sisters said the only help they have received so far is three meals of Khichuri a day from local political leaders.

A number of the victims left the place searching for shelter while the others are still waiting for relief as different sections of the society promised to help them.

While visiting the area, The Daily Star correspondent found around 100 families still living under the open sky along the road. They only have strips of polythene to protect them from rain and sun.

Deputy commissioner (DC) of Dhaka and officials of relief ministry visited the area yesterday and they gave assurance of relief including tin sheets and rice, the victims said.

Local Ward Commissioner Rawshan Ara told The Daily Star that they are working hard to get relief for the victims and the problems of the slum dwellers will be solved soon.

She said, " Due to two-day government holiday relief will reach the victims late." She, however, said rice would be distributed among the victims from today.