
The deceased were identified as Suman Sarkar, 35, son of Sanchit Sarkar, and Mamun, 32, son of Habibur Rahman, of Gopalpur and Radhanagar Maktab villages respectively.
Sukhi Khatun, a nurse at Pabna General Hospital, said one of the victims was brought to the hospital at midnight and the other at 3am.
One of them died while undergoing treatment at the hospital and was later taken home by relatives, she said, adding that the other died on the way to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
Dulal Uddin, officer-in-charge of Pabna Sadar Police Station, confirmed the deaths.
Family members claimed that the deaths were due to gastric complications and cremated Suman’s body Friday morning.
Locals, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the youths fell ill after consuming a toxic type of liquor called ‘PD’ from the bar ‘Chaki Bari,’ owned by Proloy Chakir, cultural affairs secretary of Pabna district Awami League.
Additional Superintendent of Police Md Moshiur Rahman told UNB that hospital records indicated alcohol consumption as the preliminary cause of death.