40 Bagerhat prisoners fall sick

BAGERHAT, Apr 15 (UNB):  Some 40 prisoners of Bagerhat district jail fell sick on Tuesday morning due to food poisoning after they were provided with improved diets on Monday on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar, reports UNB.

Sources at the jail said 19 of the sick prisoners, including a female one, were taken to Sadar Hospital as they have been suffering from stomach upset and constant vomiting.

Contacted, acting RMO of the hospital Dr Koheli Begum said that 19 prisoners were admitted to their hospital at 8 am as they were suffering from food poisoning. "They're now out of danger," she said.

Jail Super Mohammad Amanullah also confirmed UNB that nearly 40 of his jail inmates fell sick due to food poisoning. But unofficial sources said the number of prisoners who fell ill would be about a hundred.

They said the prisoners were served with panta bhat (watery rice) and hilsa, a popular dish combination taken at the dawn of the first of Bangla New Year. Later, on Monday night, the jail inmates were provided with fried rice.