A Cardiff father and his teenage son have been found dead in a flat in an apparent poisoning while on holiday in Bangladesh.
Rafiqul Islam, 51, a taxi driver, and his son, 16-year-old Mahiqul, along with three more members of their family were said to have been discovered unconscious by police officers on Tuesday.
The father and son could not be saved while Rafiqul Islam’s wife, Husnara, 45, their older son, Sadiqul, 24, and daughter, Samira, 20, are being treated in hospital.
Husnara and Samira remained in a critical condition in the intensive care unit while Sadiqul was said to be recovering.
The family were on a two-month holiday visiting relatives in the country and renting a flat in the eastern city of Sylhet.
Bangladesh police superintendent Farid Uddin said: “After discussing the overall situation with the doctors and inspecting the scene, we believe this may have been a case of poisoning. The other people in the building are close relatives of the victims. We questioned them. At the moment, we believe they fell asleep after dinner.
“This must be investigated further. How were they poisoned? How did they die? We will be able to confirm after an investigation.”
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Uddin added: “After they were taken to the hospital, the father and the youngest son were declared dead. The mother and daughter are in critical condition. The other brother, Sadiqul, is receiving treatment.”
Police are still awaiting the results of the post-mortem examinations, which have already taken place.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: “We are providing consular assistance to a British family following an incident in Bangladesh and are in contact with the local authorities.”
