Local people said Arshad of the village bought two watermelons from Baliakandi Bazar Thursday evening and took them to his in-law's house at the same village.

The 10 members of his in-law's family and their neighbours, including Arshad and Sakiruddin, fell sick after taking the watermelons in the morning.

They were admitted to Baliakandi health complex.

When connected, health officer Golam Kibria said unscrupulous traders might have ripened the watermelons by injecting them with toxic chemicals.