Jashore, August 6 — Tragedy struck Jashore on Monday night as a fire at the Zabeer International Hotel claimed the lives of at least 18 people. The blaze engulfed the five-star establishment owned by Shahin Chakladar, the General Secretary of the Jashore District Awami League and a Member of Parliament.

The fire erupted around 11:30 PM, according to A.M. Mamun, Assistant Director of the Jashore Fire Service. The incident unfolded in the wake of Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as Prime Minister, which sparked widespread celebrations and unrest across the city.

In the aftermath of Hasina’s resignation, jubilant crowds flooded the streets, leading to significant disturbances. Major roadways were filled with celebrants, and some members of the crowd began vandalizing local landmarks, including a mural of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a sculpture of Sheikh Russel, and the district Awami League office.

The Zabeer International Hotel, along with Chakladar’s residence, office, and press, were targeted by the mob. The fire raged uncontrollably for a period, hampering initial rescue efforts. It was only after an hour that an Air Force helicopter managed to rescue several individuals trapped inside the building. As the fire was partially brought under control, emergency responders recovered bodies from various floors of the 14-story hotel. Over 50 people sustained injuries in the incident.

Around 3:45 PM, a victory march organized by students and citizens escalated into violence. During the event, a segment of the crowd vandalized the Zabeer International Hotel at Chitra Mor. By 4:15 PM, the hotel was set ablaze.

Fire service personnel were deployed to tackle the fire, and some individuals trapped on the 14th-floor balcony signaled for help. Although a rescue helicopter attempted to land on the roof, it failed to do so but managed to rescue at least one person.

In addition to the hotel, several other properties were attacked, including Kazi Nabil Ahmed’s house, the MP for Jashore-3 (Sadar), in Kazipara, the district Awami League office, and the Sheikh Russel sculpture.

In a press conference held later in the evening, Rashed Khan, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Jashore, condemned the attack on the Zabeer Hotel. Khan criticized the vandalism and urged authorities to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the violence and arson.

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