School Feeding Illness in Chapainawabganj

In Chapainawabganj Sadar Upazila, 18 students became ill after consuming food provided under a school feeding programme at a government primary school. Of them, 10 students were admitted to Chapainawabganj 250-bed District Hospital for treatment.

According to information confirmed by the school headteacher, Dulal Hoda, and the Residential Medical Officer (RMO) of the district hospital, Mahbub Hasan, the affected students fell sick between Wednesday afternoon and 8 pm, following the consumption of food distributed at midday.

The incident took place at Salim Dolpara Government Primary School in the Sadar Upazila. Under the school feeding programme, students were served eggs and bread for lunch. Shortly after eating, 18 students began to experience illness symptoms. Initially, they were given primary treatment locally. However, as the condition of 10 students deteriorated, they were transferred and admitted to the district hospital for further medical care.

The school authorities confirmed that the situation developed within a short period after the meal was consumed. Medical monitoring continued after admission to ensure the stability of the affected students.

The District Primary Education Officer, Saiful Islam, stated that the food supplied to the school had been delivered by the non-governmental organisation Gram Unnayan Karmasuchi (GUK). He further confirmed that samples of the supplied food had been collected and sent to a laboratory for testing to determine their quality and safety.

He also noted that similar incidents of student illness linked to school feeding programmes had been reported in different upazilas of the district in the past. These matters had been communicated to higher authorities, and an investigation committee had earlier been formed by the district administration on the directive of the ministry. The committee has already submitted its report.

On the other hand, GUK field officer Atik Hasan stated that the illness was not caused by the food itself. He attributed the situation to excessive heat conditions at the time, adding that the organisation supplies food to 213 government primary schools in Sadar Upazila and that no similar incidents had been reported elsewhere.

RMO Mahbub Hasan of Chapainawabganj 250-bed District Hospital said that the condition of the 10 admitted students is currently stable. He added that, based on preliminary observations, the illness may have resulted from a combination of potentially low-quality or unhygienic food and high temperature conditions, although formal confirmation awaits laboratory results.

Summary of reported cases

The incident remains under review pending laboratory results and further administrative assessment.