Young woman dies of yaba overdose in Cox’s Bazar

Swarna Rashid belonged to a wealthy family in Dhaka and studied A-level at a prestigious school. 

The 22-year-old girl made a trip to Cox's Bazar with 10-12 of her friends on Friday, but told her family that she is visiting her maternal uncle's home. It became Swarna's final trip, as she lost her life after overdosing on yaba tablets at a hotel room the same night. 

After arriving Cox's Bazar on Friday morning, Swarna and her friends rented rooms at Ocean Paradise Hotel & Resort. The property belongs to Shahjahan Ansari, a yaba kingpin currently in jail.

The group went to the beach in the afternoon and returned to the hotel during the evening. Swarna and her friends then began taking drugs, leaving her unconscious after a while.

She was taken to the Emergency Room of Cox's Bazar Zila Sadar Hospital around 8pm, said Residential Medical Officer Dr Shaheen Abdur Rahman Chowdhury.

"I asked Swarna's friends to admit her to the hospital, but they left with her saying that she will be taken back to Dhaka. They then came back with Swarna around 9:30pm. But, the girl was dead on arrival," he told The Business Standard.

Dr Shaheen confirmed that Swarna died of yaba overdose. The hospital authorities contacted the police soon after her death was confirmed. Many of her friends had escaped from the hospital by then.

Police detained one of Swarna's friends named Wali Ahmed Khan, who is also a resident of Dhaka. Wali was sent to jail after police produced him before a court in connection with Swarna's death.

Speaking to the correspondent, Cox's Bazar Sadar Model police station Sub-Inspector Md Sharif Ullah said, "Swarna told her family that she is visiting her uncle, but came to Cox's Bazar with her friends instead.

"After the news of her death reached her family, Swarna's father and other relatives came to Cox's Bazar on Saturday morning."

Police filed a case over the unnatural death on Saturday.

Officer-in-Charge Shahjahan Kabir of the police station said, "Swarna's body was taken to Dhaka on Saturday night after autopsy. Further action will be taken as per the wish of her father."