Over 100 residents of Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hall visit health centre with waterborne diseases

More than 100 students at Dhaka University’s Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hall have fallen ill with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting, in what is suspected to be a waterborne disease outbreak linked to the hall’s water supply.

The situation escalated on Saturday, prompting the university to set up an emergency medical camp within the hall premises to handle the surge in patients.

Tanveer Ali, chief medical officer of the Shahid Dr Muhammad Mortaza Medical Centre, confirmed that at least 60 female students had sought treatment at the health facility since Thursday.

"Most of the students are suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting,” he said.

“Since the number of patients increased on Saturday, we have stationed two doctors at a camp inside the hall. Including these cases, the total number of affected students will exceed a hundred," he added.

Tanveer noted that such outbreaks are typically caused by contaminated water or food.

Students have pointed to the hall’s water tanks as the primary source of the problem, alleging that recent cleaning efforts were handled poorly.

Juena Alam Moon, a resident of the hall, described a strong smell of bleaching powder in the water.

"Even after the tanks were supposedly cleaned, the water smells so strongly of bleach that it causes nausea just to rinse one’s mouth.

“The cleaning staff often sprinkle bleaching powder in the washrooms but don't wash it away properly," she said.

She added that insects are often seen around the drinking water tanks.

"Bleaching powder is meant to disinfect, but if it isn't cleaned out properly, it causes even more stomach problems when we ingest it."

Sajrin Amin, a master's student of political science, fell ill on Friday.

"The problems started four or five days ago and peaked in the last two days. Both the canteen food and the water are responsible.

“The canteen environment is filthy, but the hall administration takes no action. Even those who don't eat at the canteen are getting sick, which confirms the water is the main culprit," she said.

When contacted, hall provost Prof Mahbuba Sultana assured that the situation is now being managed.

"We have taken all necessary steps. The water reservoirs have already been cleaned by professionals," she said.

"The number of sick students is now decreasing, and the situation is under our control."

Despite these assurances, many residents have reportedly stopped using the hall’s water for drinking and are now relying on bottled water at their own expense.