Six People Die in Rangpur After Consuming ‘Spirits’ Over Three Days

Rangpur, 13 January – The city of Rangpur is grappling with a spate of deaths linked to the consumption of illicitly sold rectified spirit, with two more fatalities reported in the past 24 hours. This brings the total death toll over three days to six, while several others remain hospitalised.

According to Officer-in-Charge Azad Rahman of the Hazarihat Police Station, the bodies of the most recent victims were recovered around midnight on Tuesday and sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.

The deceased have been identified as Abdul Malek, son of Mohir Uddin of Purbo Shibpur in Gopalpur Union, Badarganj Upazila, and Rashedul Islam, son of the late Mofazzal Hossain of Shyampur, Bandar College Para, Rangpur Sadar.

The tragic sequence of events began late on Sunday night in Shyampurhat, Badarganj Upazila, when a group of individuals consumed rectified spirit at the home of a local drug dealer. Several became seriously ill, and three succumbed the same night. They were:

Local sources revealed that the supplier, identified by police as Zainul Abedin, was engaged in the illicit sale of locally brewed alcohol and rectified spirit. The victims had reportedly purchased the spirit from his residence before falling gravely ill at home.

On Monday evening, another victim, 60-year-old Manik Chandra Roy of Shiber Bazar, Rangpur Sadar, passed away while undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

Police have registered separate cases at Badarganj and Hazarihat police stations. Officers-in-Charge Hasan Zahid Sarkar and Abdul Gafur confirmed the ongoing investigations.

Rangpur District Superintendent of Police, Marufat Hossain, added that some of the pharmaceuticals used in the preparation of these illicit drinks were sourced from a local homeopathic chamber. Law enforcement officials have already conducted raids at one city-based homeopathic clinic, seizing materials and gathering crucial information, with further operations continuing.

Authorities have issued warnings to the public against consuming unregulated alcohol, highlighting the lethal consequences of contaminated spirits, which continue to pose a serious threat to community health.