Students fall ill after school feeding meal in Chapainawabganj

At least eleven students fell ill after eating food supplied under the government’s school feeding programme at Police Lines Government Primary School in Chapainawabganj on Sunday (September 6), prompting the administration to form a three-member investigation committee.

The administration has also fined the food supplier, Gram Unnayan Karma (GUK), Tk 1 lakh over the incident, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Maruf Afzal Rajon confirmed.

The students were admitted to the 250-bed District Hospital between around 1:15pm and 3:30pm after developing symptoms including stomach pain and suspected food poisoning.

Acting headteacher Saiful Islam said students were served eggs and buns under the school feeding programme as usual. Several students began falling ill after eating the food, with some requiring hospital treatment.

Mahumuda Akter, one of the students receiving treatment, said she noticed something black inside the egg white and discarded it, eating only the yolk. She said several students did not eat the eggs, while many of those who did later developed stomach pain.

District Hospital Superintendent Zamir Md Hasibus Sattar said the affected students were receiving necessary treatment and had symptoms consistent with food poisoning. He said their condition was not critical and they were being kept under observation.

The investigation committee will examine whether there were any defects or contamination in the supplied food, the UNO said. Its findings will be sent to the higher authorities, after which the director of the school feeding programme will decide on further action against the supplier.

The latest incident comes after more than 100 students at four schools in the district reportedly fell ill after consuming school feeding food supplied by GUK in previous incidents. Although several cases and investigations followed, allegations remain that no visible action has been taken against those responsible.