A four-year-old child was burnt alive as a devastating fire broke out at a slum in capital's Agargaon area on Wednesday.

Fire Service control room officer Shahzadi Sultana said, on information, 12 fire fighting units rushed to the spot and doused the fire after one hour of frantic efforts.

The dead was identified as Sajib, son of Tuhin Sheikh.

At least 300 shanties of the slum were gutted in the fire, slum dwellers claimed.

The fire originated around 11:35am. But the reason behind the fire could not be known.

TF