At least 50 people have fallen ill after consuming food at a religious gathering (majlis) in Gaibandha on Friday, prompting a rush to local hospitals. The number of patients admitted with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea continued to rise through the evening and night, according to local sources.
The Incident
Witnesses and hospital sources said many attendees began suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea simultaneously after eating the food served at the event in an area of the district. Women and children are said to be among the majority of those affected. They were quickly admitted to the local upazila health complex.Hospital Response
The emergency department of the upazila health complex saw a heavy influx of patients throughout the night. Physicians attending to the patients said preliminary assessments point to food poisoning as the likely cause, although confirmation awaits laboratory tests on food samples.Investigation and Next Steps
Local administration officials visited the hospital upon learning of the incident. Samples from the food have been collected and sent for testing, according to relevant sources. Patients in critical condition have been referred to the district headquarters hospital for advanced care.Meanwhile, reports from different news outlets show a slight discrepancy in the number of casualties. One report mentions over fifty people being hospitalised, while another suggests the figure could be over a hundred. The exact number could not be independently confirmed.
Local authorities have stated that measures have been taken since the incident and that legal action is being pursued against those responsible.
