Dhaka calling Kolkata: Phone calls from home wake up Bangladeshi guests to news of tragedy
Times of India | 20 August 2026
Kolkata: Several Bangladeshi nationals boarding at hotels and guest houses on Free School Street woke up to calls from their kin, about 335km away in Dhaka, about the tragedy that happened adjacent to their location in the wee hours of Wednesday.
Dhaka resident Zillur Rahaman, staying at a hotel about 100 metres from the fire spot, did not know anything until his brother called him from home, informing him about the blaze. “I woke up to a call from my brother who asked whether I was fine. He knew I was staying in a hotel in this area. Then he told me about the incident and asked me to set out for home today itself. I went back to sleep, though. Later, as I went out, I saw people wailing outside. On my brother’s insistence, I am booking a flight to return home,” said Rahaman, a trader who came to the city on a medical visa on Aug 15.
Rahaman stated: “The condition of other hotels in this area is also deplorable. The lift of my hotel is old and it poses the risk of an accident. Besides, fire safety practice is not followed at these hotels.”
Md Nazrul, who came to the city for a medical check-up, said: “My family members at Dhaka got to know about the fire before me, and it was from them that I learnt about it. My brother had seen the news in a portal and awoke me over phone around 7am. I am returning home tonight as my family members are worried.”
Nadira Akhtar from Dhaka has had to frequently visit Kolkata for her treatment at a Bypass hospital since 2018. This time, she has been accompanied by her sister Shamima Akhtar and there was apprehension in the family about how they would manage by themselves in Kolkata.
“It was a near-death experience. I have read and heard so much about these experiences. On Wednesday morning, we both lived through one. We had to cancel our Wednesday appointment as I am still in shock. My family is most unlikely to send me back for another consultation three months later,” said Nadira.
The two sisters were on the third floor of the hotel. “My sister developed a fever here and I was feeling unwell. Around 1.45 am, my sister woke up to frantic cries. She woke me up. Initially, we thought there was commotion outside. However, the moment we opened the door, smoke filled the room. Within a second, we could hardly breathe. We opened the door and started shouting that there was a fire. Firemen downstairs saw us and assured us that they will rescue us. For another 20 minutes, we stayed put near the window, frantically waiting for them to rescue us. It was at this time that I called my husband. He kept reassuring me that I can pull this through. I am indebted to the firefighters for saving our lives,” said Nadira.