More than 150 people, including women, men and children, have fallen ill with diarrhoea and vomiting after eating food served at a religious gathering in Saghata upazila of Gaibandha.
Over the past three days, 105 people have been admitted to Saghata Upazila Health Complex for treatment. Of them, 66 have recovered and been discharged.
As of Friday evening, 39 patients were still undergoing treatment at the hospital. Several others have been admitted to Gaibandha Sadar Hospital and Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogra, while some are receiving treatment locally.
Dr Shihanul Islam, the physician in charge of the emergency department at Saghata Upazila Health Complex, confirmed the matter on Friday evening.
He said 105 patients, including women, men and children, had been admitted with diarrhoea and vomiting over the past three days. Of them, 39 were still receiving treatment, while 66 had been discharged after recovery. None of the patients admitted to the facility had been referred elsewhere, he added.
Patients said they began experiencing stomach pain, diarrhoea and vomiting shortly after eating at the gathering. They initially sought treatment locally but later went to the hospital as their conditions failed to improve. They said they were feeling better after receiving treatment.
Khodeja Begum, who is undergoing treatment at the hospital, said three members of her family, including a child, fell ill after eating at the gathering. One of them has been admitted to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogra, while another is receiving treatment at home.
The incident followed a meal organised on Tuesday (November 10) at Kal0pani Nayapara village in Saghata to mark a Majlish held in memory of deceased Zaidul Islam.
Zaidul was the son of Bablu Bepari and the nephew of Kalim Uddin Bepari, both from the area. Residents of the village and people from neighbouring areas attended the gathering and shared the meal.
Locals said several attendees began suffering from stomach pain, diarrhoea and vomiting after eating the food. The number of affected people gradually increased, with men, women and children of different ages falling ill. As their conditions deteriorated, family members took them to various hospitals for treatment.
Dr Iltutmish, health and family planning officer at Saghata Upazila Health Complex, said patients suffering from diarrhoea were receiving regular treatment. Those developing complications were being referred to medical college hospitals in Gaibandha and Bogra for advanced care, he added.
The incident has sparked concern in Kalopani Nayapara and neighbouring areas, with family members rushing sick relatives to hospitals. Concerns are particularly high over the health of children and elderly people.
The exact cause of the illness remains unknown. It is yet to be determined whether contaminated food, water or another factor triggered the outbreak.
