Internet service worker dies after reportedly falling from roof of JU dormitory

An internet service worker died after reportedly falling from the roof of Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall at Jahangirnagar University (JU) late last night (3 February) while working on installing an internet connection. 

The deceased was identified as Pritam, 18. He used to work at MasterNet, an internet service provider.

"He was brought to the Enam Medical College Hospital around 1:30am. We performed an ECG in the emergency department and confirmed his death. He had died at least 30 minutes earlier," said a doctor on duty at the hospital in Savar. 

According to eyewitnesses, Pritam was supposed to install an internet connection at the newly established Ansar camp on the west side of Block A of Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall. 

Around 11pm, Pritam called Ansar member Rabiul and came to install the connection. Rabiul showed him the router and connection point in a room on the ground floor and left. 

Pritam then went up to the roof of Block A to set the internet cable. 

"We suspect he might have slipped and fallen while pulling the cable, as we saw a loose brick on the roof railing," said Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall Provost Professor Mahmudur Rahman.

Meanwhile, some of the students who rushed to the spot after hearing about the fall expressed suspicion about the death. 

"If someone falls from the roof normally, they should be close to the wall. But he was lying face up at least 10 feet away. It is not possible to fall that far. We are suspicious about the matter," said Zubair Shabab, a student of the 48th batch. 

Rahat, a student of the 47th batch, said, "The owner of MasterNet called me around 1am and said one of his employees had died while working in our hall and asked me to check. I went behind the hall and found him lying there."

"At first, no one went near him, thinking he was dead. Then, we checked and found a pulse. There was a lot of foam coming out of his mouth. We then called a car and arranged to take him to Enam Medical," he added. 

When asked about the incident and suspicion, JU Proctor AKM Rashidul Alam said, "By the time we heard the news of the fall, the students had already taken him to the hospital. We will look into the matter."

Meanwhile, Ansar member Rabiul Islam said he was on duty at the engineering office from 10pm last night. 

"The internet technician called me around 11pm and said he was coming to work here. I gave him the router and other equipment and went back to my duty. Later, the students called the Ansars, and we came again," he added. 

Pritam's colleague, Lincoln, said they worked together from 10pm last night. Pritam went to work at the Ansar camp after receiving a call around 11pm. 

"After waiting an hour or two, I called him, but he didn't answer. I then asked the Ansars about the camp's location. I went to the roof and found the gate locked. After searching around, I found him lying there. At first, I thought he was dead. But the students said he was alive. They then took him to the hospital in an ambulance," he added.