Toxic liqour kills eight

Eight people have died in Khulna since Tuesday for consuming toxic alcohol, said doctors.

The dead are Taposh Das, 35, Parimol Das, 30, Proshenjit Das, 28, Sujon Shil, 25, Rahul Biswas, 25, Dipto Das, 22, Amit Shil, 22, and Indrani Biswas, 16.

ASM Abdur Razzak, civil surgeon of Khulna, said all the victims had a specific type of alcohol which was imported from India before their deaths. They were taken to hospitals after they felt severe chest pain and lost consciousness.

Two of the eight died at Gazi Medical College Hospital when rest of the six breathed their last at Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH), he said.

All the bodies were handed over to family members, said police.

Ashlam Bahar Bulbul, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station in Khulna, said two unnatural death cases were filed with his police station in this connection.

Two more cases were filed with Sonadanga Police Station regarding the unnatural deaths, said Momtazul Haq, officer-in-charge of the police station.

On information, Rasheduzzaman, deputy director of Department of Narcotics Control in Khulna, visited KMCH.

“Selling alcohol is strictly prohibited in our country. However, a vested quarter is importing liquor from India and selling it in the local market illegally. We are trying to find out who are behind the crime,” he said.