The dead are Jahanara, 35, a housewife, and her two children, Fatema, 7 and Ibrahim, 5. Another child who died close to Jahanara's house has been identified as Shima, 7. All the bodies were sent to the Mitford hospital for autopsy.

The fire, reportedly originating from an earthen kitchen stove in one of the tin-shed houses at about 11:30 Sunday night, swiftly burnt all the flammable goods. Jahanara and her two children were trapped in the blaze, witnesses said.

Fanned by a strong breeze, the flames quickly spread to the crowded neighbouring houses made of highly flammable bamboo sheets, sending sleeping residents in the neighbourhood rushing out in panic.

Some people, finding no other way to escape, jumped into the adjacent waterbody, while others, mostly women and children, ran out on the rail tracks.

"I was asleep when I heard people screaming for help, shouting 'fire, fire'. Before I even had time to wake others up, I saw the blaze rushing towards us," said Dholu Mia, a 45-year-old man who owned three small lodging rooms for rental.

Aklima, another resident who has been living there since 1973, said, "I have lost all I had. My precious belongings and furniture have been reduced to ashes. Now I have no source of making a living."

Sitting in front of his house, Mohammed Anis said, "All my belongings including some cash I had saved have been gutted. My family of six may now have to live in the open for weeks until I have enough cash to rebuild my house."

The crowded, 25-year-old neighbourhood had only a few narrow passages for exit, but all the residents could escape in time, thanks to the nearby factory workers who rushed to the aid of the residents and helped douse the fire.

"We were among the first to arrive at the spot when we heard that a fire had broken out in the neighbourhood," said Mohammed Khokon.

"We could quickly arrange for passage of the panicked residents, which probably averted a possible stampede," Kajol, another factory worker, said.

Firefighting vehicles from Postagola and Narayanganj arrived about half an hour into the incident, but as the neighbourhood is quite far from the nearest road, the firemen could only carry the water pipes to the spot in the dark.

Members of the local mosque committee have organised distribution of khichuri and vegetables among the affected people, most of whom lived on rental, for the next three days.

The residents said no-one from the government has come to see them. Neither the local ward commissioner nor the member of parliament visited the site of the incident, either, they alleged.