Kushtia journalist Debashish Dutta, a former district correspondent for Nagorik Television, was among four people killed in a fire in Kolkata, India. His wife, their two-year-old child and his father-in-law also died in the incident, according to his family.
The victims have been identified as Debashish Dutta; his wife, Afsana Sharmin, 25; their two-year-old child, Sharnashish Dutta; and Debashish’s father-in-law, Mohammad Akram Ali, 64. Akram Ali was a resident of Thanapara in Kushtia.
Debashish was the son of Dilip Dutta of Aroa Para in Kushtia town. News of the deaths has caused grief among relatives, colleagues and members of the local journalism community, where Debashish had been known for his work with several newspapers and television channels.
According to family members, Debashish travelled to India on 4 August with his wife for medical treatment. They went to Narayana Hospital in Bengaluru, where Afsana received treatment. Their six-year-old daughter, Mahima Dutta, remained in Bangladesh during the trip.
After completing the treatment, Debashish and his family returned to Kolkata, family members said. They had only recently arrived in the city when the fire occurred, resulting in the deaths of the four family members.
Debashish had worked in both print and television journalism during his career. He was associated with the national daily Ajker Patrika and had also worked with private television channel Channel Nine. In Kushtia, he served as acting editor of the local daily Ajker Alo.
He later worked as the Kushtia district correspondent for Nagorik Television, a role through which he covered local developments and issues for a wider audience. His professional career across several media organisations made him a familiar figure among journalists and media workers in Kushtia.
The tragedy has left the family facing an especially difficult loss, with four members dying in the same incident. The death of the two-year-old child has added to the gravity of the tragedy, while six-year-old Mahima has been left without her parents and younger sibling.
Family members said the bodies were being dealt with in accordance with the necessary procedures following the incident. Details regarding the circumstances of the fire and the official investigation were not provided in the information available.
The incident has also prompted mourning among Debashish’s former colleagues and fellow journalists in Kushtia. His death marks a significant loss for the local media community, where he had spent years working in both print and broadcast journalism.
