Chittagong University student dies from mystery ‘illness’

Police suspect a stroke as medics fail to identify the “disease”

A Chittagong University student from the 2023-24 session has died after reportedly falling ill at the Govinda Gunalanker Buddhist Hostel of the university.

Doctors at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) declared Jibak Chakma dead around 9:30am on Sunday.

“We received news of his illness in the morning and sent him to the CMCH, where he was pronounced dead,” said the university Proctor Hossain Shaid Shohrowardhy

Even though doctors at the university’s medical centre could not confirm the “illness”, a police officer stationed at the CMCH said Jibak might have suffered a stroke.

Jibak, the son of Robilendu Chakma from Rangamati’s Naniarchar Upazila, lived in room no. 7 of the student accommodation at the university's “Bishwa Shanti Pagoda”.

His classmate Sajai Chakma said he had dinner with Jibak, who fell ill after waking up in the morning.

“We rushed him to the university’s medical centre,” he said, adding that Jibak was finally referred to the CMCH.

He died there while receiving treatment, said Sajai, who recounted that Jibak lived a very “controlled life”.

Jibak was preparing to take his first-year final exams scheduled to start on Tuesday.

Mohammad Abu Taiyab, chief medical officer of the Chittagong University Medical Centre, said Jibak was brought to the facility around 7:45am with no signs of injury on his body.

“Since it was not possible to diagnose the disease immediately, he was sent to the CMCH with oxygen.”

Sub-Inspector Abdullah Hossain of the CMCH Police Outpost said, “After being taken to the Emergency Department, doctors declared him dead around 9:20am.”

“It is believed that he died due to a stroke,” he added.