Five people, including a husband and wife, have died after drinking a “homeopathic liquid” in Habiganj’s Lakhai Upazila.
They died at home or while undergoing treatment on Wednesday and Thursday, said Lakhai Police Station chief (OC) Sharif Ahmed.
When the incident was reported, the police recovered the body of one person and sent it to the morgue of Habiganj Sadar Hospital for autopsy.
The deceased were identified as Sudeb Das, 60, and Sujit Das, 35, of Morakori village in Lakhai, Nandalal Rabidas, 52, his wife Subi Rabidas, 40, of Bhadikara village, and Ranjit Kuri, 36, of Chowdhury Bazar in Habiganj town.
Police and relatives said that the five regularly bought and drank alcohol-like liquid from a homeopathic medicine shop in Morakori Bazar in the upazila. They fell ill after drinking it on Tuesday night. Later, they died while undergoing treatment in different places.
OC Sharif said that Sujit died on the way to Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital, Sudeb died at Habiganj Sadar Hospital, Ranjit died on the way to Dhaka, and Nandalal and his wife Subi died at their homes.
While police had attempted to recover all the bodies, the families had cremated four of the bodies before informing law enforcers. However, the body of Sudeb Das was recovered and sent to the morgue.
The OC said, “The source of the liquid they drank is being investigated to see whether it contained any toxic ingredients. We are investigating whether anyone else was involved in the incident.”
Aminul Haque Sarkar, superintendent of Habiganj Sadar Modern Hospital, said that the cause of death will be confirmed after receiving the autopsy report.
OC Sharif said that a case over unnatural deaths has been filed in connection with the incident.