DHAKA (Bernama-Sputnik): Close to 25 people have been killed and over 150 hospitalised after protesters set a hotel on fire in southwestern Bangladesh, reported Sputnik on Tuesday, citing local media.
The death toll from the fire at the Zabeer International Hotel in the city of Jashore reached 25 people, The Daily Star reported, citing Abdul Kadir, an official with the Bangladeshi Fire Service and Civil Defence, who also said that the protesters set the hotel ablaze around 1005 GMT on Monday. The fire was extinguished by 2345 GMT, he added.
Later in the day, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported that over 150 patients had been admitted to a local hospital following the fire.
Protests and demonstrations began in Dhaka and across the country after the announcement of a multi-day "non-cooperation action" with the authorities, which was launched on Sunday by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Clashes between anti-government students, police and government supporters escalated into riots.
The Bangladeshi government has imposed a curfew in Dhaka and other cities in the country from 1800 local time on Monday (noon GMT) until further notice. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week have been declared national holidays. - Bernama-Sputnik
