The dead is Masud Rana, son of Rashidul Islam of South Titpara village under Dimla upazila, health officials said.

As spread of the disease showed no signs of let-up, the district health authorities opened five more diarrhoea wards in Domar, Dilma, Kishoreganj, Jaldhaka and Syedpur upazila health complexes.

Four makeshift diarrhoea treatment camps have been opened at Gorgram and Barijhara villages in the Sadar upazila.

During a visit yesterday this correspondent saw patients being treated on rickshaw vans on the premises of the Sada Hospital as its corridors were packed with lying patients.

Loudspeakers, hired by the authorities, are advising people about food and preliminary treatment in the six upazilas including the Sadar upazila.

The team that came from Dhaka told newsmen on Tuesday night that diarrhoea spread in the district due to intake of uneatable food items, impure drinking water and lack of sanitation facilities.

During the period, 575 patients took treatment at the hospitals and 29 patients were admitted to the Sadar hospital till yesterday noon.

Relatives of many critical patients alleged that the authorities at the hospitals refused to admit patients.

Doctors said there was no space to accommodate patients, even on floors.

When contacted, Civil Surgeon Nazrul Islam said there is no scarcity of saline and medicine for the next few days and more will reach soon.

"Stern action will be taken if any one is found in any wrongdoing", he said.

The Directorate of Health sent 36,00 Cholera intravenous (IV) saline bags from Dhaka earlier this week. RDRS, an NGO, donated 1000 IV saline bags to the district health department on Tuesday. Local Awami League lawmaker Asaduzzaman Noor donated 500 bags of IV saline earlier.