Nine students at Jorkhali High School in Noakhali’s Hatiya upazila fell ill together again on Wednesday (September 16). The incident took place at midday during a parents’ gathering at the school. Three of the affected students, whose condition was serious, have been sent to Noakhali General Hospital. This is the third time in just 10 days that students at the same school have fallen ill.
According to school and local sources, school authorities organised a gathering with parents at midday on Wednesday. During the gathering, several students suddenly fell ill. As more students subsequently fell ill, panic spread through the school. Hatiya upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Rasel Iqbal rushed to the school on hearing the news.
Earlier, on September 7, 16 students at the same school had fallen ill after detecting a pungent smell. Then, on September 14, another 21 students suddenly fell ill in a classroom and were admitted to Hatiya upazila health complex. Following that incident, upazila administration officials spoke with teachers, students and parents, during which the presence of a pungent smell in the classroom came to light. With students falling ill on three separate occasions in a row, concern has grown among the school’s teachers, students and parents.
School head teacher Jasimuddin said parents had reported five or six students falling ill. Administration officials are at the scene and are looking into the matter, he said.
Hatiya upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Rasel Iqbal said nine students had fallen ill, three of whom were sent to the district town for advanced treatment. He said it is not yet possible to say with certainty what is causing the students to fall ill or lose consciousness, and that the administration is working to determine the cause.