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Published : 03 Sep 2025, 07:59 PM
More than 100 people have been hospitalised in Natore after reportedly falling sick from drinking water supplied by the municipality.
In the past two days, men, women, and children have been admitted to Natore Sadar Hospital with diarrhoea.
By Wednesday noon, the number of patients reached 147, according to Natore Civil Surgeon Md Muktadeer Arefin.
Senior Nurse Saira Afroze Smriti said all the patients were suffering from diarrhoea.
They were residents of Wards No. 1 and 2 of the municipality.
Deputy Commissioner Asma Shaheen, Additional Deputy Magistrate Asma Khatun, and Civil Surgeon Muktadeer visited the hospital in the afternoon.
They said the facility had enough saline and medicines for treatment. Contaminated water samples had been collected and sent to icddr,b for testing.
Lucky Rani, a resident of Bongojol, said: “My mother-in-law fell sick on Tuesday afternoon. We tried treating her at home overnight. It did not work, so we brought her to the hospital in the morning. She has been suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting.
“We drink tap water at home. She drank it [on Monday], then fell ill.”
Taslima Khatun from the Jhautola intersection, who was admitted on Tuesday night, said: “We have a water tank in our area. After drinking that water, I started having diarrhoea and vomiting. It is not only me – men, women, children, and the elderly from my neighbourhood are also here with the same problem.”
Hospital authorities said the number of patients continued to rise, making it difficult for doctors and nurses to cope.
Of those admitted to the hospital by noon on Wednesday were 66 men, and 81 women and children.
Residents said the outbreak has affected people in Kathalbariya, Jhautola, Bongojol and Patuapara, all of whom drank the municipality’s tap water.
Azizul Haque Kalu from Jhautola said: “Almost everyone in the neighbourhood is sick. It is the same problem everywhere. From last night, they have all been admitted here.”
Abdul Jalil Fakir from Uttar Patuapara said: “After drinking the water, I had diarrhoea, vomiting and severe abdominal cramps. My hands and feet cramped as well.
“If only the municipality had checked the water tanks, this would not have happened. Now thousands are sick. It is alarming. Everyone is suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting.”
Dr Muktadeer said: “Seventeen of the patients admitted are in critical condition. We have formed a medical team to monitor the situation. We have also informed IEDCR, who will investigate further.
“Enough medicine and saline are in stock,” he added. “If shortages occur, we will collect more to ensure supply. Medical teams will provide treatment on the spot if required. In addition, water purification tablets will be distributed to households through the municipality.”
Deputy Commissioner Asma said, “From what patients have told us, the water may be the cause. The alarming part is that most people did not boil their water before drinking it. The samples have been sent to Bogura for testing. Once the reports arrive, we will know more.
“Patients are receiving saline, their condition is improving, and purification tablets have been distributed.”
She added that a monitoring team has been formed to investigate the matter.
