SIRAJGANJ, Mar 1: A child reportedly died and four others including the mother of the child were hospitalised after drinking Sharbat (juice) made with expired saline in Belkuchi Upazila of the district recently.
The incident took place in Bailgachhi Village under the upazila at night.
The deceased was identified as Jimha Khatun, 3, daughter of Qayem Uddin of the area.
The hospitalised persons are: Qayem Uddins wife Parveen Khatun, their daughters Riya and Nuri, and Qayem Uddins niece Mithila.
Among them, the deceaseds mother Parveen and sister Riya are in critical condition.
According to the deceaseds relatives, Parveen Khatun was fasting all day on Monday, the day after Shab e-Barat. In the evening during Iftar she drank Sharbat made of Orsaline. Meanwhile, her three children Jimha, Riya and Nuri and niece Mithila also drank the Sharbat.
After consuming it, everyone fell ill. Later on, when they were taken to a local clinic in Belkuchi, the doctor referred them to Sirajganj. Jimha died after being taken there.
Dr Faisal Hossain, physician of the emergency department at Sirajganj Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib General Hospital, said the sick were shifted to Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital for better treatment.
Sirajganj Civil Surgeon Dr Ramapada Roy confirmed the matter.
