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Published : 27 Jul 2026, 02:24 PM
Police suspect that an unidentified toxic substance has been poured into the water supply of a temporary joint security forces' camp in Chattogram after a pipeline serving the facility was deliberately cut.
Members of the security forces stationed at a temporary camp inside Ali Nagar School in Sitakunda Upazila detected an unusual smell from the water when they used it on Sunday morning.
Several personnel who rinsed their mouths or splashed the water on their faces later complained of stomach pain and eye irritation, police said.
"Those who gargled with the water or washed their eyes and faces experienced stomach pain and burning in their eyes. They have received medical treatment," Additional Deputy Inspector General of Chattogram Range Mohammad Nazimul Haque told bdnews24.com.
Police have collected water samples and sent them to a laboratory for testing to determine the substance involved, he said.
According to Nazimul, the pipeline supplying the school is part of a 4.5-km network that also serves nearby homes. Investigators found that the section feeding the school had been cut.
"We believe someone cut the pipeline and poured some kind of toxic liquid into it, which then mixed with the water in the storage tank," he said.
Security personnel noticed a strong odour and foam in the water after opening the tank and immediately shut off all taps. School authorities were informed and the school's bathrooms were closed to prevent students from using the water, Nazimul said, adding that no students had fallen ill.
The camp was established at Ali Nagar School after a large-scale security operation in March involving more than 3,000 personnel from the army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police and other agencies.
Authorities launched the operation after years of difficulty entering the Ali Nagar and Jungle Salimpur areas, which officials have described as long-standing strongholds of land grabbers and criminal groups.
On May 24, armed assailants attacked the temporary camp and damaged another permanent facility under construction nearby, triggering a gunfight with security forces.
Police are preparing to file a case on sabotage charges, Sitakunda Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Alamgir Hossain said.
Laboratory tests are under way to determine the nature of the substance found in the water.
