Three Bangladeshi workers die in suspected food poisoning in Erbil

ERBIL — Three Bangladeshi nationals who were working in Erbil died Wednesday in what authorities suspect may be a case of food poisoning, according to relatives, witnesses and forensic sources.

The victims included a father and his son, along with another man. Their ages ranged from about 20 to 23 and around 40 years old.

Mohammad Junaid, a Bangladeshi national and relative of the deceased, told 964media outside the forensic medicine department that the family was informed earlier in the day about the deaths. “We were told that my uncle, his son and another person died,” Junaid said. “They told us it is believed they may have been poisoned by food.”

A source at the forensic medicine department told 964media the bodies had been received and forensic examinations were underway to determine the exact cause of death.

Witnesses said the men had been working as night guards near a shop in the city. Bakhtiyar Mohammed, who said he was familiar with the workers, told 964media they usually stayed near the shop while on duty. “They stay near a shop as guards, and the shop belongs to the sons of my sister,” he said.

Mohammed said he went to the site and later saw the bodies after learning about the incident. “I went and saw the bodies myself,” he said. “It appeared they had eaten rice and fish at night.”

He said five workers had been together when the incident occurred. “Three of them died, and two others who were with them are now in the hospital and survived,” Mohammed said.