Jhenidah: Around 500 people have fallen sick after taking biriyani served at a rally of an MP aspirant from Kotchandpur-Maheshpur constituency Parvin Talukder Maya in Kotchandpur upazila.

Some 248 of them were admitted to Kotchandpur Upazila Health Complex as of 2pm on Thursday, Upazila Health Officer Dr Shahb Uddin said.

Locals said the rally was organised at the main bus stand of the upazila headquarters on Wednesday following a showdown from the Maheshpur, reports the UNB.

At the end of the programme, around 5,000 packets of biriyani were distributed among the participants.

Many collected 2-3 packets, took those to their houses and ate along with their family members.

After taking the biriyani, many started vomiting and having pain in the abdomen from 8pm.

Dr Shahab Uddin said they were suffering from food poisoning.

Meanwhile, a five-member committee, led by additional police superintendent (Sadar Circle) Kanak Kumar Das, has been formed to investigate the incident.

Earlier, on Tuesday, around 100 people fell sick after taking meal at another programme of Maya in Maheshpur.