A massive fire has swept through a slum in Bangladesh's capital, reportedly leaving around 50,000 people homeless.

Key points: As many as 15,000 homes were destroyed in the blaze

As many as 15,000 homes were destroyed in the blaze It took six hours to put out the fire, according to the BBC, but no deaths were reported

It took six hours to put out the fire, according to the BBC, but no deaths were reported The cause of the fire is unknown

No deaths have been reported, although several people were injured.

The BBC reported that around 15,000 homes were destroyed.

It said many of the estimated 50,000 people who lived in the slum were low-wage earners, who were away from their homes because of a Muslim religious festival.

Many of the destroyed homes reportedly had plastic roofs, which helped the flames to spread.

Firefighters took more than six hours to put out the flames and the Bangladesh Government said it would provide relief for those without shelter.

The Bangladeshi Government will reportedly provide aid those who lost their homes in the blaze. ( Reuters: Mohammad Ponir Hossain )

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Earlier this year, a fire in the Chawkbazar area of Dhaka tore through a 400-year-old neighbourhood, killing 81 people.

In March, a fire in a high-rise office building in Dhaka killed 25 people.