Bangladeshi journalist, wife and son reported dead in Kolkata hotel fire

A Bangladeshi journalist, his wife and their son are reported to have died in a hotel fire in Kolkata's New Market area, according to a close family friend.

Journalist Debashish Dutta was the Kushtia correspondent of Dainik Ajker Patrika. 

His wife Afsana Sharmin and son Swarnashish Dutta are also reported to have died in the blaze.

Debashish had travelled to India with his wife and son for her medical treatment, said Touhidi Hasan, a family friend and Kushtia correspondent of Prothom Alo.

"Debashish went to Chennai on the 3rd of August with his wife and son for treatment. Two others from Kushtia also travelled with them," Touhidi said.

"They came to Kolkata from Chennai by air on Monday night and stayed at a hotel. They spent the day sightseeing and were scheduled to return home today. But we learnt that a fire broke out at the hotel and all three of them died."

Touhidi was at Debashish's family home in Kushtia when he spoke to bdnews24.com by phone on Wednesday afternoon, where relatives and friends had gathered.

Syed Moinul Haque, joint news editor of Ajker Patrika's National Desk, said the newspaper learnt about Debashish's death from journalists in Kushtia and was gathering further information.

"He had gone to India on leave for his wife's treatment. Only his elderly parents are at his home," Moinul said.

Indian media reported that a fire broke out at Hotel Shikha Inn, on the second floor of a building on Mirza Ghalib Street near New Market, around 2am on Wednesday. 

The fire later spread to nearby buildings.

The Indian news agency ANI initially reported, citing the fire service, that all nine people killed were Bangladeshis who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment. 

Indian media later revised the information, with NDTV reporting that one victim was identified as a resident of Jharkhand, while Anandabazar reported that most of the victims were Bangladeshis.

Bangladesh's foreign ministry spokesperson AKM Shahidul Karim told bdnews24.com that eight of the nine victims were believed to be Bangladeshis, with five deaths confirmed and three others suspected.

Later, the ministry said Kolkata police had confirmed five Bangladeshis among the nine dead. 

Four of the five were from the same family. The identities of the remaining four victims had not been confirmed.

Six injured Bangladeshis were discharged after receiving initial treatment, the ministry said. 

Bangladesh's Deputy High Commission in Kolkata is coordinating with local authorities and hospitals and has opened a round-the-clock helpline.