A tragic incident has occurred at the Amjad Ali Sarkar Pilot Girls’ High School and College in Tongi, where a tenth-grade student took her own life by jumping from the sixth-floor balcony of the educational institution. According to the local police and school sources, the act was purportedly driven by the student’s dissatisfaction with her performance in an ongoing academic assessment. The incident, which took place on the afternoon of Sunday, 11 May, has caused significant distress among the student body and the local community.
The deceased has been identified as Jannatul Marjan, aged 16. She was the daughter of Delowar Hossain, a resident of the Gazibari Pukur Paar area in Tongi. Marjan was a regular student of the tenth grade at the aforementioned college. Witnesses and local sources reported that the school was conducting its scheduled weekly tutorial examinations at the time of the occurrence. At approximately 5:00 pm, while the academic session was still active, Marjan reportedly jumped from the balcony of the sixth floor of the college building, falling to the ground below.
Medical Intervention and Emergency Response
Immediately following the fall, school authorities and bystanders rushed to the scene to provide assistance. She was first transported to the Shahid Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital in Tongi. Given the critical nature of her injuries, medical staff recommended an immediate transfer for more advanced clinical care. Consequently, she was moved to the Ship International Hospital, located within the jurisdiction of the Turag Police Station.
Despite the efforts of the medical teams, Jannatul Marjan succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment. At approximately 6:00 pm, the duty physician at Ship International Hospital officially pronounced her dead. Upon receiving notification of the fatality, officers from the local police station arrived at the hospital to conduct a preliminary inquest and prepare the surat-hal (physical condition) report.
Police Findings and Family Statements
The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tongi East Police Station, Mehedi Hasan, provided details regarding the preliminary investigation. Citing statements from the bereaved family, the police noted that the student had been struggling with certain psychological challenges. The family reported that she was prone to sudden bouts of anger and emotional instability.
“The girl had existing mental health issues,” OC Mehedi Hasan stated. “Based on the information gathered, she was distressed because her examination had not gone well. In a fit of emotional volatility triggered by her academic performance, she jumped from the sixth-floor balcony.”
Following the completion of legal formalities at the hospital, the family of the deceased submitted a formal written application to the authorities requesting that the body be released without a post-mortem examination. The police granted this request, and the remains were handed over to the family for burial and final rites according to their customs.
Context of Academic Pressure
This incident highlights the severe impact of academic pressure and mental health vulnerabilities among secondary school students in the region. Amjad Ali Sarkar Pilot Girls’ High School and College is a well-known institution in Tongi, and the sudden nature of the event during school hours has prompted discussions regarding the need for better psychological support systems within educational frameworks.
Educational experts often note that tutorial exams and competitive assessments can become significant stressors for adolescents, particularly those already dealing with underlying mental health conditions. While the school has not issued a formal statement regarding its internal counselling provisions, the local administration has emphasised the importance of parental vigilance and the provision of professional mental health support for students exhibiting signs of emotional distress or volatility. The case has been recorded by the Tongi East Police Station as an unnatural death, though no further criminal investigation is expected given the circumstances and the family’s request.