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Police suspect foul play in the deaths of a couple and their son whose bodies were found in a hotel room in Dhaka's Moghbazar area on Sunday.
The deceased have been identified as Monir Hossain, 48, a Saudi expatriate; his wife Nasrin Akter Swapna, 38; and their physically disabled son Nayeem Hossain, 18.
The family had travelled to Dhaka from Ramganj in Laxmipur on Saturday for the boy's medical treatment.
According to police, failing to consult a doctor, they checked into Sweet Sleep Hotel in Moghbazar that evening. The following morning, all three were found dead.
Masud Alam, deputy commissioner (DC) of Ramna Division under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said initial observations and doctors' findings suggest the deaths were caused by poisoning.
"We suspect poison, but we are still trying to determine whether it was due to food contamination or if someone deliberately laced their food," he told reporters.
The family reportedly fell ill hours after having dinner, which was brought from a nearby restaurant by a distant uncle of Monir, who is also the caretaker of their house in Keraniganj. The victims were taken to Ad-din Hospital, where doctors declared them dead.
Dr Zakia Tasnim of Dhaka Medical College's Forensic Medicine Department, who performed the autopsies, said the symptoms observed are consistent with food poisoning.
"We have collected blood and viscera samples and sent them for testing. Once we receive the reports, we will know the actual cause of death," she added.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com