Young Constable’s Death Sparks Grief and Mental Health Debate

The death of a 21-year-old police constable serving at Demra Police Lines in the capital has cast a shadow of grief over colleagues, family members and many others following reports that he died by suicide. Hours before his death, the young officer, Saidul Islam, published a lengthy and deeply emotional Facebook post addressed to his wife, describing the collapse of their marriage, his emotional distress and what he portrayed as an overwhelming sense of despair.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, 17 July, at a multi-storey residential building inside Demra Police Lines under Demra Police Station. Saidul was later rescued in an unconscious state and taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where the attending doctors declared him dead.

According to family members, Saidul had joined the Bangladesh Police as a constable around nine months ago and had been living on the ninth floor of a 20-storey building within the police residential complex. His uncle, Md Sohag, said the family learned that he had allegedly hanged himself in his room at around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday. Fellow officers reportedly rushed him to a nearby hospital immediately after discovering him. As his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment, but doctors were unable to save him.

Before the incident, Saidul shared a video on Facebook featuring several old photographs with his wife. Accompanying the video was a lengthy personal message in which he reflected on the breakdown of their relationship. Throughout the post, he spoke of emotional suffering, feelings of betrayal and the helplessness he believed had consumed him.

In his message, Saidul wrote that he had built his dreams and future around his wife and their life together. He claimed those hopes had collapsed within a short period, leaving him emotionally devastated. Describing his state of mind, he compared himself to a sailor stranded in the middle of the sea without direction or hope of reaching safety, suggesting that he no longer saw a way forward.

He repeatedly questioned what he had done wrong, asking whether loving someone deeply and marrying despite obstacles had ultimately become his greatest mistake. He stated that he had repeatedly forgiven and given opportunities in an effort to preserve their marriage, believing that the bond between husband and wife should endure despite hardship. According to his account, however, those efforts failed to save the relationship.

Saidul also wrote that he had never wanted to lose the person he loved and had accepted marriage as a lifelong commitment. Towards the end of the post, he apologised to his parents, saying he no longer possessed the strength to endure the emotional pain he had been carrying for a long time. He described himself as someone who had become completely broken by his circumstances.

Following news of his death, screenshots and copies of the Facebook post spread rapidly across social media, prompting widespread public discussion. Many commentators linked the tragedy to the growing importance of mental health awareness, particularly among young people and members of high-pressure professions. Mental health specialists have long emphasised that prolonged emotional distress, relationship difficulties and signs of depression should never be dismissed. They stress that timely support from family, friends and colleagues, together with access to professional mental health care when necessary, can play a vital role in helping people through periods of crisis.

Inspector Mohammad Faruk, in charge of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, confirmed Saidul Islam’s death, citing the attending physicians. He said the body had been kept at the hospital morgue for a post-mortem examination and that the relevant police station had been informed to complete the legal formalities.

Authorities have stated that an investigation remains under way to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident. Until that process is completed, officials have not drawn any final conclusions regarding the precise cause of the young constable’s death.