15 students fall ill after eating school feeding food in Chapainawabganj

At least 15 students have fallen ill and been admitted to hospital after eating food of the school feeding programme at Police Lines Government Primary School in the municipal area of Chapainawabganj. The students fell ill one after another after eating eggs and bread at noon on Sunday (September 6). Later they were taken to Chapainawabganj 250-bed District Hospital.

Acting Head Teacher of the school Saiful Islam informed that like every day eggs and bread were given to the students under the school feeding project on Sunday as well. A few minutes after eating the food several students started feeling unwell. Later they were sent to the hospital.

The hospital authorities have informed that necessary treatment is being given to the unwell students. Symptoms like food poisoning including stomach pain have appeared among several of them. It is being assumed initially that they may have fallen ill from the food itself. However the actual cause of illness will be confirmed after the test.

The relatives of the students have raised questions about the quality of the food. Their allegation is that although food is supplied to the school considering the nutrition of the children, stricter measures need to be taken in quality control. There is fear that the purpose of the school feeding programme itself may be hindered if low-quality or spoiled food is served.

Private organisation Gram Unnayan Karma (GAK) supplies the food of the school feeding programme in Chapainawabganj. Although phone was called several times to know the statement of the organization's district coordinator Kabir Hossain regarding the students falling ill, he could not be reached.

Meanwhile it has been said in various reports citing local sources that earlier also incidents of students falling ill after eating food supplied by GAK have taken place in several government primary schools of Chapainawabganj. News of 18 students falling ill after eating school feeding food was also received in a government primary school of the district in June of the current year.