At least 20 syndicates are making a fortune by providing gas, power and water illegally to people living in the capital's biggest slum, Korail Bosti. They get an estimated Tk 1.5 crore per month from slum dwellers and a major portion of the money is spent to “manage” the local police station and a section of employees of the three utility service providers.

The fire incident at the slum in Kalyanpur area of Dhaka comes a day after a High Court order halted eviction drive by the public works ministry.