A rickshaw puller has died of heatstroke after suddenly falling ill on the street in Barisal.
The incident took place on Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Road on Tuesday, Kotwali police station Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Riajul Islam confirmed.
The deceased was identified as Raja Miah, 67.
According to locals, Raja Miah stopped his rickshaw in front of LabAid Diagnostic Centre and suddenly fell on the ground.
He was initially treated at the private hospital and later taken to Barisal Sadar Hospital where the duty doctors declared him dead.
Kotwali Police Station ASI Riajul Islam said that Raja Miah's daughter Mahinur and son Emon were informed when he was being treated at the private hospital. When they arrived at the spot, Raja Miah was taken to the government hospital.
Quoting the family members, Dr Afia Sultana, medical officer at Barisal Sadar Hospital, said Raja Miah did not have any prior illness. However, he used to drive rickshaw while fasting.
He was initially assumed to have died of a heatstroke amid the scorching summer heat, the doctor said.
Emon Miah, the son of the deceased, said his family would take his father's body to his village home in Jhalokathi, where Raja would be buried.
A heatwave has been sweeping across the country for the last few days that is causing huge distress to people.
Nasir Uddin, Barisal Meteorological Office official, said the maximum temperature in Barisal was 36.3°C on Tuesday. The maximum temperature in Barisal this season was 36.6 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
