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Nine people were killed in a devastating fire at a residential hotel in Kolkata, including a journalist couple, their three-year-old child and the woman’s father from the same family.
The victims were identified as Debashish Dutta, 40, Kushtia correspondent for Ajker Patrika and Channel Nine; his wife Afsana Simmin, 25; their three-year-old child Swarnashish Dutta; and his father-in-law Akram Ali, 64.
The fire broke out in the early hours of Wednesday (August 19) at a residential hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street near New Market.
Former president of the Kushtia Press Club and editor of local newspaper Ajker Alo, Gazi Mahbub Rahman, confirmed the deaths of the four family members. Debashish Dutta served as the newspaper’s executive editor.
Debashish also worked as the Kushtia correspondent for Channel Nine and daily Ajker Patrika. His home was in the Aruapara-Rajarat area of Kushtia town, while his father-in-law Akram Ali was a resident of Thanapara.
According to family sources, Debashish travelled to Bengaluru, India, on August 3 for his wife’s medical treatment. He also has an eight-year-old daughter and his parents.
Mahishwar, a member of a local welfare committee, said the victims included eight Bangladeshi nationals and one Indian citizen.
