Police in Rangpur have arrested drug dealer Joynal Abedin after six men died in three days from consuming rectified spirit sold as alcohol. Several others remain in critical condition, according to police.
Badarganj Police Station OC Sarkar Zahid Hasan said two men died on Tuesday night in Shyampur. The victims were Abdul Malek, son of Mohir Uddin from East Shibpur village in Gopalpur Union under Badarganj Upazila; and Rashedul Islam, son of the late Mofazzal Hossain from Shyampur Bandar College Para under Rangpur Sadar Upazila.
Police recovered Malek’s body from his home and Rashedul’s from his in-laws’ house. Both bodies were sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for autopsy.
The incident began late on Saturday night, when several men consumed rectified spirit at the residence of identified drug dealer Joynal Abedin in the Shyampurhat area of Badarganj Upazila and fell ill.
Three men died at the scene: Alamgir Hossain, son of Amirul Islam from Basantpur village in Gopalpur Union; Sohail Mia, son of the late Rafiqul Islam from East Shibpur village; and Jennat Ali, 35, from Shahapur village under Sadar Upazila.
Others who fell ill are receiving treatment in secret at different locations.
Another man died in a separate but similar incident. Hazirhat Police Station OC Azad Rahman said Manik Chandra Ray, 60, son of the late Anil Chandra Ray from Shivor Bazar West Hindu Para under Sadar Kotwali Police Station, fell ill after consuming alcohol on Monday evening in the Balar Bazar area. He died on Tuesday afternoon while undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
Police said two separate cases have been filed at Badarganj and Hazirhat police stations. Ten bottles of rectified spirit were recovered while arresting Joynal Abedin.
Rangpur Superintendent of Police Marufat Hossain said drug dealers source the rectified spirit from certain homeopathic chambers.
Detective police and the Department of Narcotics Control raided a homeopathic chamber in the city. “We have obtained some information. Operations are ongoing,” he said.
