Tourist dies due to excessive alcohol consumption in Cox’s Bazar, five held

A tourist has died allegedly due to excessive alcohol consumption at a hotel in Cox’s Bazar’s Kolatoli area, leading police to detain five people for questioning.

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning in room 407 of the “Hypherion White Palace” hotel located in the city’s hotel–motel zone.

The deceased was identified as Md Rubel, 42, son of Lal Bar from Shibrampur in Naogaon district.

According to police and local sources, Rubel and three other tourists from Naogaon were staying at the hotel. Later that night, two young women joined them, and the group reportedly consumed alcohol together. Rubel fell seriously ill shortly after and was rushed to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Hotel manager Nazmul Haque said it appeared that the death resulted from excessive drinking. “Police have taken five individuals, including two women, into custody for questioning,” he added.

The detainees were identified as Abdul Latif (42), Md Mamun (42), Motaleb (36), Marjina Akter (18), and Sabina Akter (17).

Additional DIG of Tourist Police, Apel Mahmud, said, “We are conducting regular drives against drug abuse and immoral activities in hotels. In some cases, hotel authorities are found to be complicit. We are investigating whether this case involves similar circumstances.”

Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ilias Khan said an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of death.