3 killed in building fire in Bangladesh

A fire swept through a building that houses two private TV stations and a newspaper in Bangladesh's capital, killing at least three people and injuring scores, rescuers and news reports said Monday.

Air force helicopters, troops and firefighters rescued dozens of people from the building in Kawranbazar, a crowded commercial district in central Dhaka, ATN Bangla TV station reported.

A man and a woman died after jumping from the building to escape the fire, doctors said. Another woman who suffered serious burns died later at a hospital, the United News of Bangladesh said.

Maj. Asadul Haq, an army officer overseeing the rescue operation, told the news agency that at least 100 people were injured in the fire, most in jumps from the building.

It was not immediately known what caused the fire, but officials were investigating.

The TV stations and the newspaper in the building are owned by Mossadek Ali, a former lawmaker recently jailed on corruption charges.