AL leaders among four die in liquor poisoning in Kishoreganj

Staff Reporter :
At least four people, including two Awami League leaders, died and ten more became sick after consuming poisoned liquor at Kuliarchar upazila in Kishoreganj.
In the same incident, the panel mayor of Kuliarchar municipality Habibur Rahman was undergoing treatment in the ICU of Dhaka Medical College & Hospital (DMCH) in a critical condition, said our Kishoreganj staff reporter.
According to sources, Kuliarchar Upazila Awami League’s organizing secretary-1, Gias Uddin, organizing secretary-2, Zahir Raihan (alias Judge Miah) and a homeopathic doctor, Gobind Das, died in Bajitpur Jahurul Islam Medical College Hospital in the early hours of Monday (January 16).
Earlier on Saturday (January 14) night, an auto rickshaw driver Shahjahan who was with them fell ill and died.
According to the relatives of the deceased and police sources, on Friday night (January 13), everyone drank alcohol together after sitting in an office in Kuliarchar market of the upazila. The next day, Shah Jahan, an auto rickshaw driver from Bajitpur Sararchar area, fell ill and died.
Later on Monday morning, Kuliarchar Upazila Awami League leaders Gias Uddin Gias and Zahir Raihan died while undergoing treatment at Bajitpur Zahurul Islam Medical College Hospital.
Meanwhile, local homeopathic doctor Gobind Das died on the way to Dhaka Medical College & Hospital for better treatment.
Yasir Maih, Chairman of Kuliarchar Upazila, confirmed the matter to the New Nation that four people including two leaders of the upazila died and 10 more people became sick due to taking alcohol.
Resident Medical Officer of Kuliarchar Upazila Health Complex Dr. Milan Roy said, “At around 3:30 in the night, an Awami League leader named Gias Uddin suddenly fell ill and was brought to the hospital. Then we give him first aid. Initially, they denied drinking alcohol. But later their relatives admitted to the matter. In our opinion, all four deaths are related to one formula.”
After the incident, Police Super of the district, Mohammad Rashel Sheikh PPM (bar), visited on the spot and told the media that they were investigating the matter to know the facts.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kuliachar Police Station Golam Mostafa said, “We have not yet received any complaint from anyone’s family in this regard. We are investigating the incident on our own initiative. But doctors can tell the cause of their death. The bodies have been sent to Kishoreganj hospital morgue for autopsy.”