On September 21, a former student of Khulna University (KU) named Saikat Ranjan Mondol allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in his mess room. It's been suspected that Saikat killed himself on his failure to get a government job.
Hailing from Shyamnagar Upazila in Satkhira, Saikat was a student of the KU Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology (2009-2010 session). He was living in the room upon completion of his university education back in 2016.
The cops were informed after the locals discovered the body of Saikat hanging from a ceiling fan in his room through an open window. The police from Harintana Police Station recovered the body around 12:30am on Saturday. They also found a suicide note where it was mentioned that he was upset after not getting any government jobs despite repeated attempts. Records show that at least five to six such suicide incidents are taking place every week across the country.
The 'World Suicide Prevention Day' was observed in Bangladesh on September 10 as elsewhere across the world. A good number of activities was also hosted to raise awareness against suicide. Despite all these attempts, the number of suicide incidents is on the rise in the country.
Suicide is a desperate attempt to escape the suffering of life when it becomes unbearable. Feelings of self-loathing, hopelessness, and isolation edge a person committing suicide to find relief through death. Such people are deeply conflicted about ending their own lives.
Suicide is preventable. Suicide prevention can start by recognising the warning signs and taking them seriously. Talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life. But in Bangladesh, talking about these things is considered a taboo. This trend needs to change.
There is a popular misconception that if a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing can stop them. This is a wrong notion. They can be helped by family members, loved ones and friends. They need to be understood and be shown the positive aspects of life.
Globally, every year approximately one million people take their own life and there are many more people who attempt to commit suicide. Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families and communities and has long-lasting effects on the people left behind.
Masud Rana
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
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