Two minor siblings die within hours in Dhaka, food poisoning suspected
Two siblings, aged 10 years and 14 months, died within hours under unusual circumstances in Dhaka yesterday (20 December), with family members and police suspecting food poisoning as the cause.
The deceased were identified as Afrida Chowdhury, 10, and her younger brother, Ilham Chowdhury, 14 months.
Hatirjheel Police Station Officer-in-Charge Golam Mortuza told The Business Standard that the deaths were suspected to have been caused by food poisoning. "However, the exact cause will be determined after autopsies."
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The children's father, Mosleh Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, works at a factory in the city. The family, which originally hails from Cumilla, lives in a rented house near the Mogbazar Wireless Mor area.
Speaking to TBS, the children's uncle, Touhid Alam Chowdhury, said, "Afrida and Ilham had been vomiting since Saturday morning. Afrida was first taken to Rashmono Specialised Hospital, where she passed away.
"Later, Ilham was taken to Dhaka Community Medical College Hospital, where doctors advised admission. He died later in the afternoon."
Hatirjheel police Sub-Inspector Md Suman Mia said family members were initially preparing to take the bodies to their village home after the deaths.
"After receiving information, police recovered both bodies from the house and sent them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for autopsies," he added.
