United News of Bangladesh

Jhenaidah has been rocked by a disturbing surge in suicides, with 301 people taking their own lives in 2025, laying bare deep-rooted mental health challenges, intense social pressures and gaps in public safety.  Women account for a disproportionate share of the deaths, heightening concerns over their vulnerability, according to official data. Of the total cases, 182 people hanged themselves, while 119 died after consuming poison. Abdur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of Rural Development Center (RDC), a human rights organisation based in Maheshpur, revealed  the statistics. In 2025, he said, 168 women and 133 men committed suicide in the district. In comparison, 319 people killed themselves in 2024—152 men and 167 women. In 2023, the total was 328, and in 2022, it was 323.  A statistical analysis shows that the number of suicides in 2025 has slightly decreased compared to the last four years. Jhenaidah Sadar recorded the highest number with 79 cases, followed by Shailkupa, 67, Maheshpur, 46, Harinakunda and Kaliganj (43 each), and Kotchandpur, 23. Of those who hanged themselves, 109 were women and 73 were men, while among those who consumed poison, 57 were women and 62 were men. The statistics were compiled using multiple sources, including monthly reports from the Jhenaidah Civil Surgeon's Office and the Deputy Commissioner’s Office. Over the past four years, a total of 1,271 people committed suicide in the district, with women making up a relatively higher proportion of the victims. Maheshpur Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Helena Akter Nipa said women are more prone to suicide due to emotional vulnerability. She cited social factors such as drug addiction, unemployment, mental health issues, family conflicts, failed relationships, extramarital affairs and poverty as contributing causes. In this regard, Kazir Nazir Uddin, chairman of Sadhuhati Union under Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila, told UNB that suicide has become a serious problem in the district. He said people are very emotionally sensitive and often take their own lives over minor issues.  Although the district administration is holding awareness meetings in the union, the number of suicides has not reduced significantly, Nazir said, adding that the situation is slightly better than last year. “Suicidal incidents could be reduced to some extent if strong family bonds and religious values were developed in every household,” he added. Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the district Abdullah Al Masud emphasised the media’s responsible role in suicide prevention. Businessman takes own life with licensed gun in Jhenaidah “Suicidal incidents must be reported carefully to avoid inciting others. Expanding counseling services is crucial, as timely psychological support can help individuals in crisis,” he said. DC Masud pointed out that the district administration has continued field-level awareness activities to prevent suicide and urged people from all walks of life to participate in these efforts.

A teenage madrasa student reportedly took his own life on Friday afternoon in the city's Khilgaon area of the capital. The deceased was identified as Ismail, 14, son of Milton of Tia Gacha Bhabanipur in Sadullapur upazila of Gaibandha district. He was residing with his family at a rented tin-shed house in Madhya Meradia under Khilgaon Police Station. Manikganj man hacked to death after reporting rape attempt on granddaughter According to family members, Ismail was found hanging from a ceiling fan with a towel at around 12:30 pm. He was immediately taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where on-duty doctors declared him dead at 1:50 pm. DMCH Police Outpost In-Charge Md Faruk said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy. The reason behind the suspected suicide could not be confirmed.

A 13-year-old boy allegedly died by suicide by hanging himself at Islambagh Boro Madrasha in Old Dhaka on Wednesday. The deceased was Md Abdullah, a student of the Kitab section of Islambagh Boro Madrasha at Chawkbazar. Faruk Hossain, in-charge of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) police outpost, said the boy was brought to the emergency department of DMCH around 3pm where doctors declared him dead. Hailing from Uttar Kumira village in Tongibari upazila in Munshiganj district, Abdullah was living with his family on the fourth floor of a rented house near Bismillah Hotel in East Islambagh’s Chalbazar area, he said. Quoting Abdullah’s father he said Abdullah had completed his Hifz and was studying in the Kitab section of the madrasha. While he usually spent nights at home, he had stayed at the madrasha the night before the incident. “I have no idea why he did this,” the grieving father added. Faruk said the body was kept at the hospital morgue and Chawkbazar police have been informed.  

A Dhaka University student reportedly committed suicide inside at a residential apartment in the Hatirpool area under Kalabagan police station in the city on Monday evening. The deceased was identified as Pinak Ranjan Sarker, 24, a master's student of the Drawing and Painting Department at Dhaka University. Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Iqbal Hossain of Kalabagan Police Station confirmed the incident saying the the body of Pinak was recovered the body from a ninth-floor apartment at 187/5 School Street, Hatirpool, after breaking down the door on Monday night. The body was found hanging from a ceiling fan hook with a piece of towel inside a room, he said. The body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue for autopsy. Interpol issues red notice against former IGP Benazir Primary investigation suggests that he died by suicide, but the exact cause will be determined after getting the autopsy report,” said SI Iqbal on Tuesday. Talking to reporters at the DMCH, Pinak’s roommate Zahid Hasan said he returned home in the evening and found the room locked from inside with no response from Pinak. He then informed police through the national emergency helpline 999. Police arrived and broke open the door to find the body. Zahid mentioned that Pinak had been showing signs of depression for the past month, often remaining quiet, though he never shared specific concerns. Hailed from Mymensingh Sadar upazila, Pinak was the son of Prithish Ranjan Sarker. He was the eldest among two brothers and a sister and had been residing in the rented apartment in Hatirpool.

Three members of a family were found dead at their house in Gazipur city on Sunday morning. One of the deceased was identified as Nazmul but the names of his wife and their minor daughter could not be known yet. Kashimpur police station’s Officer-in-Charge Md Moniruzzaman said being informed they recovered the Nazmul and his family members from the house in Govindabari area in the morning. His body was found hanging while the bodies of his  wife and daughter were found lying on a bed, he said. Elderly couple's decomposed bodies found in Laxmipur The  bodies were sent to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College and Hospital morgue for autopsy. Police suspected that Nazmul might have strangled his wife and the daughter to death and then he died by suicide.

A 27-year-old housewife reportedly committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling of her house at Baddanagar in Hazaribagh area of the capital early Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Sumaiya Akter Shumi, wife of Zubair Hossain Shohagh. Quoting relatives, inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police camp, said family members found Shumi hanging from the ceiling of her house with a scarp around her neck around 5:30 am. Later, she was taken to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared her dead around 7:50 am. Body of missing Bangladeshi found in India’s Tripura However, the reason behind the suicide could not be known immediately.  

Police recovered the body of a 22-year-old woman from her home in Kanaighat of Sylhet on Sunday. The victim, identified as Fatima Begum alias Phoolan, was the wife of Faisal Ahmed of Bayampur Lakshmipur village in the municipality. The deceased’s husband and in-laws reportedly fled the house with their two-year-old daughter shortly after the incident, according to police. Kanaighat Police Station SI Durga Kumar Dev said that they recovered the body after receiving the news and found no family members present at the home. The body was brought to the police station and an accidental death case was filed. However, relatives of the deceased are disputing the suicide claim, alleging that Fatima was murdered by her husband and in-laws. Fatima's father, Faruk Ahmed, said that he received a call from Fatima's sister-in-law, Masuma Begum, on Saturday afternoon, informing him that his daughter had hanged herself. When Faruk arrived at his daughter’s home with his family, they found that Faisal Ahmed, his parents and their granddaughter were no longer there. Neighbours confirmed that the family members had fled the scene after the incident came to light. The body has been sent to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Morgue for autopsy. It will be known whether it was murder or suicide after the autopsy report comes, added the OC.

A gunman who fatally shot at least 12 people, including two children, in Montenegro has killed himself while surrounded by police, officials said Thursday. At least four others were wounded in the shooting rampage in the western town of Cetinje on Wednesday that followed a bar brawl, officials said. The shooter, identified as 45-year-old Aco Martinović, killed the owner of the bar, the bar owner's children and his own family members, Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović said. The attacker, who was fled after the rampage, was later located and surrounded by police. He died after shooting himself in the head, Šaranović said. Police had dispatched a special unit to search for the attacker in the town, which is located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) northwest of the capital, Podgorica. All the roads in and out of the city have been blocked as police swarmed the streets. Šaranović said that Martinović had died while being taken to a hospital in the capital and succumbed from the “severity of his injuries.” Read: Serbian president cancels visit to Serbs in Montenegro The government has declared three days of national mourning starting on Thursday, with Prime Minister Milojko Spajić describing the shooting as a “terrible tragedy.” “The level of rage and brutality shows that sometimes such people ... are even more dangerous than members of organized criminal gangs,” Šaranović said. Martinović was at the bar throughout the day with other guests when the brawl erupted, Police Commissioner Lazar Šćepanović said. He said that Martinović then went home, brought back a weapon and opened fire at around 5:30 p.m. “He killed four people” at the bar before heading out, and then continued shooting at three more locations, Šćepanović said. He said that the suspect received a suspended sentence in 2005 for violent behavior and had appealed his latest conviction for illegal weapons possession. Montenegrin media have reported that he was known for erratic and violent behavior. The small country of Montenegro, which has a population of around 620,000 people, is known for its gun culture and many people traditionally have weapons. Wednesday’s shooting was the second shooting rampage over the past three years in Cetinje, Montenegro’s historic capital. An attacker killed 10 people, including two children, in August 2022 before he was shot and killed by a passerby in Cetinje. Read more: Montenegro adopts law on religion amid protests by pro-Serbs President Jakov Milatović said that he was “shocked and stunned” by the tragedy. “Instead of holiday joy ... we have been gripped by sadness over the loss of innocent lives,” Milatovic said in a post on X.

A student of Jahangirnagar University’s  Department of Geography and Environment was declared dead by a doctor after she was found hanging from the ceiling fan at a room in the university’s Bir Pratik Taramon Bibi Hall. The deceased, Takia, a first-year student of the department’s 53rd batch (2023-24) died early Friday at room 7005 on the 7th floor of the residential hall around 4:45 am, according to friends and fellow students. Injured student dies at DMCH two days after attack in N'ganj They suspect it as a case of suicide, saying Takia took the drastic step following an alleged dispute with her boyfriend, Sabbir, during a video call. Moments after the call ended, Sabbir alerted her friends, urging them to check on her immediately.  The friends rushed and broke into the locked room, but they found her hanging from the ceiling fan upon entry. Later, the university's medical officer on duty was immediately brought to the hall. The doctor declared the student dead after conducting an examination. Four arrested for vandalising Hindu properties in Sunamganj The university’s proctorial body and her uncle reached the hall following the incident, and Ashulia police was informed. Although Takia was a registered resident of the hall, she did not stay there regularly and mostly lived with her uncle in Savar. According to students in neighbouring rooms, she had arrived at the hall the previous day.  

Jagannath University (JnU) assistant proctor Deen Islam,  who was arrested in connection with student Abantika's suicide, walked out of jail on bail on Wednesday (May 08, 2024). However, another accused, Abantika’s classmate Amman Siddiqui, is still behind the bar. Read more: Accused JnU teacher, student arrested over Abantika's suicide Deen Islam walked out of Cumilla jail on Wednesday afternoon, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Cumilla Kotwali Police Station Md Feroz Hossain confirmed. OC Md Feroz Hossain said Deen Islam was released on bail today on the order of the High Court. Family members of Deen Islam received him at the jail gate after his release, he said. Earlier on March 16, police arrested the two accused following the death of Fairuz Abantika who committed suicide the previous day. Read more: Abantika’s death: JnU students place 6-point demand