Over the past three weeks, at least 131 students from Rajshahi University (RU) have been diagnosed with jaundice, resulting in one fatality.
Between January 15 and February 6, some 324 students underwent jaundice tests, with 131 testing positive. On average, six students are affected by this disease every day, as reported by Prothom Alo, citing sources from the university's medical center.
Murad Ahmed Mridha, a final-year student in the mathematics department at the university, succumbed to kidney failure and jaundice at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on February 5, according to media reports citing hospital authorities.
Tabibur Rahman Sheikh, Chief Medical Officer of RU Medical Center, noted that the incidence of jaundice has surged in recent weeks. Among the affected students, a significant proportion is also suffering from Hepatitis A.
He emphasized that students are grappling with a health crisis attributed to the consumption of unhealthy water and food.
Students have pointed out the unavailability of pure drinking water round the clock from the submersible pumps installed at the halls as a contributing factor to the situation.