The quiet village of Khidirpur in Mithamoin upazila woke up to devastating news on Tuesday morning. Rubina Aktar, a 30-year-old housewife, reportedly took her own life by hanging with a scarf in her father-in-law’s house. Her death has cast a shadow over the community and brought attention to an alarming national crisis. Rubina, married to Sharif Mia, had been struggling with familial disputes for an extended period, according to locals and police. After a brief stay at her father’s house, she returned to her father-in-law’s home, only to meet this tragic end. Her body was recovered by family members, who rushed her to Mithamoin Upazila Health Complex, where physicians declared her dead upon arrival. The police, informed of the incident, sent Rubina’s body to Kishoreganj Adhunik Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy. JU student dies allegedly by suicide in residential hall Officer-in-charge Shafiul Alam of the relevant police station confirmed that further actions would be taken following the autopsy report. While the immediate cause of Rubina’s actions remains unclear, her death echoes a larger issue that continues to plague the nation. A National Crisis in Numbers Every year, an estimated 10,000 to 14,000 people in Bangladesh take their own lives, making suicide the second leading cause of death after road accidents. Among adolescents aged 13-17, suicide rates are particularly alarming. A study published last year revealed that 4.4% of boys and 5.8% of girls in this age group succumb to this fate. The factors driving these tragedies are multifaceted. Depression often serves as the root cause, exacerbated by failed romantic relationships, academic pressure, and parental alienation. Increasingly, excessive use of digital devices and the negative impact of social media contribute to feelings of isolation and despair. The Call for Action On June 12 last year, a virtual roundtable titled "Progress, Challenges, and Actions to Achieve Our National Targets to Reduce Deaths by Suicide" brought together experts and policymakers to address this pressing issue. Speakers emphasized the urgent need for both public and private sectors to collaborate in defining and implementing strategies for suicide prevention. Girl aged 8 stabbed dead by ‘evil stepmother’ in Natore; father attempts suicide A key highlight of the discussion was Bangladesh’s Mental Health Policy, enacted in 2022. Section 7.13 of the policy specifically addresses suicidal tendencies and aims to reduce associated risks. Experts called for comprehensive mental health support systems, including accessible counseling services and awareness campaigns, to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Breaking the Silence Rubina’s tragic death underscores the critical need for collective action. Community members, educators, and policymakers must work together to foster a culture of empathy and support, locals said. Raising awareness about mental health, addressing root causes and ensuring timely interventions can save lives and prevent future tragedies. As Bangladesh continues to struggle with the growing mental health crisis, stories like Rubina’s serve as poignant reminders of the work that remains. Her loss is not just a personal tragedy for her family but a call to action for an entire nation, according to the villagers.

An all-weather 30-kilometre road is transforming the lives of the haor people in Kishoregnaj with new jobs and income-generating activities besides traditional paddy cultivation and fishing.  The socio-economic condition of the local people is gradually uplifting with the rise in their incomes thanks to the improved communication system.  On a recent visit to the Itna-Mithamoin-Austragram Haor road this UNB correspondent found that the locals, traditionally dependent on agriculture and fishing, have started engaging in many alternative works to boost the family income.  Consider Abul Hossain, who has taken to driving an auto-rickshaw when there is no crop in the haor. "This road has paved the way of earning in different ways. We can now think of different jobs alongside fishing and paddy production," he said. The part-time auto driver also said, "We, the inhabitants of three upazillas, are now well-connected round the year because of this road. We can meet anytime within three areas and trade our production which was a rare thing before. Communications with the other districts through Kishoreganj has become faster and time-saving.” READ: Nikli Haor, Mithamoin-Astagram Road Trip: On the Way to Kishoreganj On the other hand, fisherman Mahabat hailing from Mithamoin Upazila, said people of the haor are enjoying the benefits of this road. "Some people thought that construction of a road through the haor was a waste of money. Now all the people enjoy the benefits. The uninterrupted communication with the neighbouring districts will be possible within some years." he said. A wholesale merchant of Itna upazila Rahmat Ali said his sales have increased manifold as the road is attracting more tourists to the once remote backwater areas. “It’s a dream come true,” he said revealing his excitement.   With a greater flow of tourists the business in hotels and restaurants is also booming. Jubair, who works at Kachalanka restaurant said they are receiving many customers in the area after the inauguration of this road.    “Though visitors come here in a huge number during the rainy season for enjoying the beauty of the haor region, we are getting many tourists here round the year now,” he said.   During a visit to the area last month President Abdul Hamid, who hails from the area, shared his feelings about the road and other development works.  On the way from Mithamoin to Ashtagram, the son-of-the-soil said “These three isolated upazilas are now connected by this 30- kilometre long road. It used to take five hours to go by boat and a day on foot. Now it is possible to go only in fifteen minutes,’ he said.