20 prisoners hospitalised

Twenty inmates of the Bagerhat District Jail have fallen ill due to food poisoning.

They were admitted to the Bagerhat Sadar Hospital on Tuesday, said Jail Superintendent Md Amanullah.

Fifteen others were being treated inside the jail.

The inmates were down with diarrhoea after having 'special food' on Monday - Pahela Baishakh - the first day of Bangla New Year, said Amanullah.

Doctors say they fell ill due to food poisoning, but the jail authorities claim the drinking water was the cause.

Kuheli Begum, the hospital’s acting resident officer, said the patients were admitted in phases.

She too suspected food poisoning but said, “They are now doing fine.”

Amanullah, however, attributed the incident to a drinking water crisis in the jail.

He said the quality of food served had been good, but the prison lacked a safe source of water.

The tube-well water the prisoners drink has excessive salt and iron content, the superintendent said.

He said they had raised the issue with the authorities, including the deputy commissioner and municipality mayor.

Bagerhat Civil Surgeon Md Bakir Hossain said they had ensured good treatment of the inmates.

Besides, a 12-member medical team headed by Bagerhat Sadar Hospital Senior doctor Mosharref Hossain saw the inmates being treated in the jail, Hossain said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Khulna division, AKM Fazlul Haque also visited the prison.

Deputy Commissioner Md Shukur Ali said the situation was being closely monitored.

He said a probe committee would be formed if needed.

Ali said they were trying to solve the drinking water problem, but admitted it would take some time.