Madrasa student dies of food poisoning
Noakhali District Representative:
A student of a madrasa in Noakhali’s Begumganj has been found dead after eating dinner. Another 16 madrasa students have been admitted to Noakhali General Hospital due to the incident. One of them died before being taken to hospital. The deceased was identified as Nishan Nur Hadi, 9, son of Anwar Miah of East Eklashpur village under Eklashpur union of the upazila. He was the first student of the Noorani department of Madinatul Uloom Islamia Madrasa and Orphanage.

The incident took place at around 9.45pm on Monday (August 2) at the Madinatul Ulum Islamia Madrasa Complex and Orphanage in East Eklashpur village of Ward 2 of Eklashpur Union in the upazila.

Ismail Hossain, superintendent of Madinatul Uloom Islamia Madrasa and Orphanage, said he cooked meat at the madrasa around noon on Monday. Then on the same day, after the Esha prayers, 20 students of the residential department of the madrasa went to bed after eating dinner with the meat. At one stage, around 9:30 pm, 18 students fell ill and all of them started vomiting due to stomach ache. At this time a resident teacher of the madrasa informed about the matter and called a local village doctor to the madrasa. Later, on the advice of the village doctor, 18 sick students were taken to Noakhali General Hospital in a few steps.

According to local sources, the total number of students in the madrasa is 120. In the first stage, 16 people fell ill after eating dinner and no one else ate the rest of the food. A total of 60 students eat daily in this madrasa. Citing the sick, locals said the meat had a slight odor. Among the sick, Nishan died at the madrasa.

Dr Syed Mohiuddin Abdul Azim, Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of Noakhali General Hospital, said it was initially thought that the students of the madrasa fell ill after eating dinner due to food poisoning. Among the sick, a madrassa student named Nishan was brought to the hospital dead. Besides, 16 more madrasa students have been admitted to Noakhali General Hospital in critical condition.

Officer-in-charge (OC) of Begumganj Police Station Muhammad Kamruzzaman Sikder confirmed the incident. He further said that upon receiving the news, the police immediately visited the spot. The rest of the food was seized for testing to investigate whether any toxins were mixed with the food. The police are investigating the matter. Later legal action will be taken in this case.