The narrow lanes of Korail Slum still reek of burnt wood and twisted tin, remnants of last Tuesday night’s devastating fire. The destruction goes far beyond homes and belongings—many children are now grappling with deep emotional trauma. The fear in their eyes is a stark reminder of the ordeal they endured.
Ten-year-old Ashraful vividly recalls the terror of fleeing the blaze. He tries to brush ashes off his burnt notebooks but cannot recognize the letters. “All my notebooks are burned. We are poor. How will I continue studying?” he asked.
His mother said, “He sits quietly all day. Nothing we owned is intact. I don’t know how to comfort him.”
Students like Ashraful from Mayer Doa Bidya Niketan and High School have also not recovered from the memory of the fire. Ashraful’s mother said, “We adults can manage, but she keeps asking, ‘Mom, will the fire happen again?’”
The affected school offers classes from playgroup to 10th grade. Around 30 SSC candidates are among the students, many of whom are struggling emotionally. The fire has raised serious concerns about continued learning.
Rukaiya, a student, said, “The fire destroyed all my preparation. I cannot afford new books. My father borrowed money to buy them before. Now, I may not even be able to sit for exams.”
Tayfa Jaman, a teacher at Mayer Doa Bidya Niketan and High School, explained, “The children have lost more than books; they’ve lost courage. Many cannot sleep. People are suffering financially, but the emotional damage is even greater. Right now, they don’t need classes or exams; they need their mental stability restored first.”
Mental health experts warn that such traumatic events can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep problems, anxiety, withdrawal, excessive crying, and reduced self-esteem in children. Experiencing such horrors at a young age can affect learning abilities, social skills, and daily behavior.
Experts caution, “If children are not provided with proper psychological support, a safe environment, and counselling after such sudden disasters, the long-term mental damage could be severe.”
Dr Muntasir Khan, a psychiatrist, added, “After disasters like fires, children often suffer from fear, nightmares, and extreme sensitivity. Safe environments, as well as support from parents and teachers, are essential for their mental recovery. Providing only books or materials does not heal emotional wounds; restoring their confidence and sense of security is most important.”
A social worker from the Department of Social Services, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “Affected families are being provided shelter, psychological support, and essential services. However, humanitarian aid alone is not enough. Safe environments, mental health support, and monitoring are necessary, and efforts are underway to address this.”
To meet urgent needs such as food, shelter, medical care, safe water, sanitation, and educational materials, UNICEF is working closely with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Department of Disaster Management.
