Three others got injured and some 70 houses, mostly shanties, were gutted in the incidents.

A fire at a Demra slum in the capital killed a person, injured three others and gutted 60 shanties yesterday afternoon, reports our staff correspondent.

The dead was identified as Shahidul Islam, aged around 40.

Originating from the hearth of a shanty at Koratitola slum at Doyaganj in Demra at 3:45pm, the fire engulfed the adjacent 60 shanties, said fire fighters.

The locals, however, claimed the fire burnt more than 100 shanties including several shops, on a 10-katha private property.

The fire fighters rescued critically injured Shahidul from his shanty and admitted him to a local clinic where doctors declared him dead.

The fire also left three slum dwellers -- Phul Banu, 65, Aslam, 26, and Kabir, 25, -- injured.

Ten fire fighting vehicles from four stations brought the fire under control at around 5:30pm.

The fire fighters estimated the damage at Tk 3 lakh, although the dwellers claimed it to be more.

A class eight student was burnt alive, and 10 houses were gutted in a fire at Jahanabad Jelepara in Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong district early yesterday, reports UNB.

The deceased, Samarjit Jaladas, 15, son of Panjuri Jaladas, was caught by fire as he entered the house to save his books.

The fire originated from electric short circuit in the house of Panjuri Jaladas at about 1:00am and soon engulfed nine adjoining houses, sources said.

Two units of Chittagong Fire Brigade rushed to the spot and doused the flames at about 4:00am.

Fire service sources said the loss could go up to Tk 20 lakh.