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One young man died and four others fell seriously ill after consuming a homemade drink allegedly mixed with alcohol and other drugs at a fish barbecue party in Noakhali’s Sadar upazila.
The deceased was identified as Mohammad Sakib, 22, of Muslim Colony in East Lakshminarayanpur village under Kadir Hanif Union.
Sudarām Model Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Idrisur Rahman confirmed the incident at around 11am on Sunday.
Sakib died at a private hospital in Noakhali around 11am on Saturday after falling critically ill.
Police and local sources said several young men organised the barbecue party at a residence in the Khalpar area east of a local women’s college in Kadir Hanif Union around 11pm on Friday. The party was arranged to welcome a friend who had returned from abroad.
During the party, the youths allegedly mixed alcohol with different drugs to prepare a drink called “Jhakkas” and consumed it. They later returned home after having dinner and spending time together.
Around 5am on Saturday, Sakib and four others became seriously ill. Their families initially arranged treatment from local doctors.
As Sakib’s condition deteriorated, he and another youth, Mohammad Tipu, 24, were taken to Prime Hospital Private Limited in Noakhali around 11am. Doctors there declared Sakib dead.
The four others were identified as Saiful Islam Pakhi, 22; Tipu, 24; Monir Hossain Shanto, 23; and Mohammad Russell, 23.
Pakhi was sent to Dhaka for better treatment, while Tipu, Shanto and Russell were admitted to the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital.
Dr Rajib Ahmed Chowdhury, resident medical officer of the hospital, said three people were undergoing treatment after falling ill from drinking toxic alcohol.
Inspector Idrisur Rahman said Sakib’s body was at his home and would be recovered and sent to the Noakhali General Hospital morgue for autopsy.