Bangladeshi patients: Kolkata hotel closures leave Bangladeshi medical travelers scrambling for rooms
Bangladesh Deputy High Commission urges travelers to confirm hotel bookings as fire-safety drive closes dozens of establishments
KOLKATA, India — Bangladeshi visitors traveling to Kolkata, particularly patients seeking medical treatment and their attendants, are struggling to find affordable accommodation after a sweeping crackdown on hotels and guesthouses following last month’s deadly fire.
The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata has advised Bangladeshi travelers to confirm their hotel bookings before leaving for the city and to verify that their chosen accommodation remains operational and suitable.
The advisory comes amid reports of Bangladeshi patients and their attendants being forced to search for accommodation late at night, with some reportedly spending nights on pavements with their luggage.
For years, areas around New Market, Marquis Street and Free School Street have been a major hub for Bangladeshi medical travelers, tourists and business visitors. The neighborhoods offered relatively affordable hotels and convenient access to hospitals, pharmacies, restaurants and public transportation.
But the closure of dozens of hotels has sharply reduced the supply of low-cost accommodation. Many families are now being forced to stay farther from hospitals or pay substantially higher room rates.
The impact has been particularly severe for cancer patients, who may need to remain in Kolkata for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and repeated hospital visits. For families traveling from Bangladesh on limited budgets, staying close to a hospital can be essential rather than a matter of convenience.
The accommodation shortage has also spread to areas such as Mukundapur and neighborhoods around major hospitals in south Kolkata, where some hotels and other lodging facilities have come under scrutiny over fire-safety and licensing violations.
The problem is not limited to Bangladeshi visitors. Poor patients and their attendants arriving from remote parts of West Bengal are also facing difficulties finding affordable places to stay.
Crackdown follows deadly hotel fire
The enforcement drive began after a deadly fire at Shikha Inn on Mirza Ghalib Street near New Market in the early hours of Aug. 19.
Nine people were killed in the fire, including seven Bangladeshi nationals and two Indian citizens. A child was among the victims. Most of those killed reportedly died from suffocation after becoming trapped in toxic smoke.
The tragedy prompted an extensive safety audit of hotels and guesthouses across central Kolkata.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation, fire department and police began inspections focusing on fire-safety compliance, emergency exits, building permissions, trade licenses and other statutory requirements.
Several establishments subsequently received show-cause notices or closure orders.
By Aug. 22, at least 52 hotels in the New Market area had reportedly shut down. As inspections expanded, more than 100 hotels and guesthouses across Kolkata were either closed or faced closure, further reducing the availability of affordable accommodation.
Safety concerns and humanitarian gap
Authorities have faced little opposition to closing hotels that fail to meet safety standards following the Shikha Inn tragedy. But the rapid reduction in low-cost accommodation has created a significant problem for patients who depend on affordable lodging near medical facilities.
Hospitals and other organizations have reportedly stepped in to help some stranded patients and their attendants find accommodation.
Still, the scale of the disruption remains significant, particularly for families traveling from Bangladesh for prolonged medical treatment.
For many of these patients, the loss of affordable lodging close to hospitals means not only higher costs but also longer journeys during periods of serious illness.
The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission’s advisory is therefore urging travelers to confirm their accommodation arrangements before arriving in Kolkata, as the city’s hotel situation remains unsettled.
