Expatriate, family die from suspected food poisoning in Dhaka

The bodies have been sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for autopsy

A Saudi Arabian expatriate, his wife, and son have died in Dhaka allegedly of food poisoning after eating from a restaurant near the hotel where they were staying, police have said.

The deceased are Saudi expatriate Monir Hossain, 48, his wife Nasrin Akhter Swapna, 38, and their son Arafat, 18. They were residents of Lakshmipur’s Ramganj Upazila.

Ramna police chief Omar Faruk said the family had travelled to Dhaka from Lakshmipur on Saturday for medical consultations.

As they couldn’t get an appointment, they checked into Hotel Sweet Sleep in Moghbazar that afternoon.

The officer said, “We came to know they had dinner from a nearby restaurant named Bhorta Bhaat. After some time, all three began vomiting and later took over-the-counter medicine for relief.

On Sunday morning, Monir’s uncle visited the hotel and found the three unconscious. He rushed them to nearby Ad-Din Hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival, he added.

Police suspect food poisoning as the cause of death, but have not ruled out other possibilities. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID)'s crime scene unit has collected evidence from the hotel and hospital, officials said.

Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner Masud Alam said, “The CCTV footage of the hotel where they dined has been collected. The hotel manager is being questioned.”

“Although it is suspected that the death was due to food poisoning, an investigation is under way to explore other possible causes.”

He also said the bodies have been sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital for an autopsy.