Tragedy strikes Ruet as student found dead in dormitory

The academic community of the Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) was struck by a tragedy yesterday evening (10 January) when the lifeless body of a student was discovered in a dormitory at Shaheb Bazar area in Rajshahi city.

The deceased, Mehdi Hasan, was a student of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning (URP) at Ruet.

The discovery of his hanging body at the 'Ebela' dormitory has sent shockwaves through the university, raising concerns about student mental health and the pressures of academic life.

Conatacted, Director of Student Welfare Prof Robiul Islam Sarkar said, he went to Mehdi's room no-923 on the 8th floor of the dormitory after 12am.

Mehdi's hanging body was found inside the locked room. Later, members of the crime scene of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) brought down the body at early morning, said Robiul. 

Robiul added police are primarily thinking the incident to be a case of suicide.

Mehdi was suffering from depression for the past couple of days, Robiul added.   

Officer-in-charge Mehdi Masud of the Boalia Model Police Station said the body was promptly recovered and sent to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital for a postmortem.

"It appears, at first glance, to be a case of suicide. However, we cannot confirm anything until we receive the autopsy report," OC Masud said.

While the initial findings point towards suicide, the underlying reasons for this tragic event remain unclear. Investigators are waiting for further evidence and analysis from the post-mortem report to ascertain the exact cause of death.

This tragic incident has left Mehdi's friends, family and university peers reeling with grief.