Bleach-tainted water at DU Hall leaves over 100 students ill

More than 100 students of Dhaka University’s (DU) Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hall reportedly fell ill over the past three days after consuming and using water allegedly contaminated with bleaching powder residue following water tank cleaning at the residential hall.

Students complained of diarrhoea, vomiting and severe discomfort, triggering panic across the female dormitory. Many alleged that a strong smell of bleaching powder had persisted in the hall’s water supply since the tanks were cleaned earlier this week.

According to students, the water became difficult to use for bathing, washing and other daily activities due to the pungent chemical odour. Student Juwena Alam said bleaching agents used for disinfection can become harmful if not properly rinsed out after cleaning.

“We believe the tanks and washrooms were cleaned with bleach, but the residue was not washed away properly,” she said.

Chief Medical Officer of DU’s Shahid Buddhijibe Dr Muhammad Mortaza Medical Centre, Dr Mohammad Tanvir Ali, said at least 60 students received treatment at the centre on Thursday and Friday alone. As the number of patients continued to rise, authorities later opened a temporary medical camp inside the hall's premises.

Students also alleged long-standing negligence in the hall’s water management system, claiming several water filters were either non-functional or clogged with dirt. Some students further accused the administration of attempting to suppress complaints and avoid accountability over the deteriorating conditions.

Amid mounting criticism, DU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam visited the hall on Saturday night and spoke with affected students. He instructed the hall administration to take immediate measures to ensure safe water and proper medical support.

The vice-chancellor was accompanied by pro-vice-chancellors Prof Dr Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane and Prof Dr Abdus Salam, former proctor Prof Saifuddin Ahmed and hall provost Prof Dr Mahbuba Sultana.

Prof Sultana said the water tanks had been professionally cleaned again and claimed the situation was gradually improving, with fewer fresh cases being reported. She added that water and food samples had been sent to a laboratory for testing.

The incident also drew public criticism from law professor Asif Nazrul, a former adviser to the interim government, who questioned the availability of services at the university medical centre.

In a Facebook post after visiting the centre on Sunday, he alleged that physiotherapy staff were absent as they had gone to greet a newly appointed university official with flowers. Nazrul described overcrowded corridors filled with patients and relatives, writing that there was “no scent of flowers, only sweat and suffering".

NRE/AM