Dhaka, Nov. 26 -- Hosne Ara worked as a domestic helper in a house in Baridhara. The widowed mother of two had been supporting her family by working in others' homes.

In the past 13 years, she had gradually built a home complete with essentials, including a television and refrigerator, but before she could even comprehend what was happening, everything was reduced to ashes.

Hearing the fire, she fled her home with her children in whatever clothes she had.

Once she had ensured their safety, there was no way to return; by then, the entire house was engulfed in flames.

"All the things needed in a household were there. I took the two children and ran; I could not even take a single thread of cloth," she said.

She was not the only one. Th...