First-year Jagannath University student found hanging in Dhaka mess

Police recover body of first-year student; cause of death unknown

Police have recovered the body of a first-year Jagannath University student from a mess in Old Dhaka’s Sutrapur.

The dead, Rakiba Islam, was a 2024-25 islamic history and culture student from Satkhira.

Sutrapur Police chief Moshiur Rahman said the body was found around 10:30am on Sunday near the water pump in the Kolta Bazar area.

“We are conducting the post-mortem and formal inquest,” he told bdnews24.com.

Another police officer said a team responded to a 999 call at 10pm on Saturday.

The exact circumstances of Rakiba’s death remain unclear.

The cause will be confirmed after the post-mortem examination.

Rakiba’s younger brother Naeem Hossain said their mother last spoke to her on Saturday night.

She was alone in the mess and told their mother she was unwell and would call later.

She did not contact anyone afterwards, her brother said.

“On Sunday, after repeated attempts to reach her failed, her friends went to the mess and found the door locked from inside,” Naeem said. “With help, they broke the door and discovered Rakiba hanging inside.”

Jagannath University Proctor Prof Muhammad Tajammul Haque, said: “The reason for this incident is still unknown.”