Eleven members of the same family were hospitalised after consuming rice cake made with granulated pesticide mistaking it for black cumin in Satkhira. The incident took place yesterday (24 November) in Ramjannagar area of Shyamnagar upazila in Satkhira.
The victims were identified as Samiya, 4, Aklima, 35, Sumaiya, 22, Aija, 2, Mehzabin, 10, Jannati, 15, Aiyub Khan, 60, Aziha, 1, Umme Habiba, 21, Sharmin, 23 and Mita, 35.
Shyamnagar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Ziaur Rahman said the patients were treated immediately upon arrival and the toxins were removed through gastric wash. All of them were released today morning (25 November) after recovering.
According to Sub-Inspector Biplob Hossain of Shyamnagar Police Station, the family had gathered to celebrate the construction of a new house. During preparations, elderly family member Zulekha Bibi mistakenly mixed granulated pesticide, stored in the kitchen and used for paddy fields, into the rice cake batter thinking it was black cumin.
Shortly after eating the rice cake, all 11 individuals fell ill and were rushed to the hospital. "This was an accidental incident caused by confusion over the ingredients," the SI said after visiting the scene.