Father dies by suicide after son’s wedding collapses

A 45-year-old man in Netrokona’s Purbadhala upazila has allegedly died by suicide after his son’s wedding was called off at the last moment, reportedly leaving him deeply distressed. The incident took place on Wednesday night (29 July) in Panishana Purba Para village, under Ghagra Union, triggering shock and concern among local residents.

The deceased was identified as Mohammad Suruj Mia, son of the late Abdul Majid of Panishana Purba Para village. According to local residents and police sources, the family had been preparing for the wedding of Suruj Mia’s elder son, Helal Mia. The household was reportedly in a festive mood, with arrangements under way for the groom and his relatives to travel to the bride’s home in neighbouring Hiranyapatti village.

However, the planned wedding took an unexpected turn before the formalities could begin. According to local accounts, two women arrived at the groom’s family home claiming to have romantic relationships with Helal. One of the women reportedly said she was in a relationship with him and demanded that he marry her.

The claims reportedly led to discussions among the families and local people present at the scene. As the dispute unfolded, uncertainty grew over the wedding that had already been arranged. Attempts were subsequently made to resolve the matter through discussions involving family members and local residents.

At one stage, it was reportedly decided that Helal would marry one of the women who had claimed to be in a relationship with him. As a result, the wedding with the bride previously chosen by the family did not take place.

The sudden cancellation reportedly created a complicated situation involving the two families. Local sources said that, as part of an attempt to settle the matter, the groom’s family agreed to pay Tk 50,000 in compensation to the family of the bride whose wedding had been cancelled. It was not immediately clear whether the amount had actually been paid.

Family members and local residents claimed that Suruj Mia became emotionally overwhelmed following the incident. The collapse of his son’s planned marriage, coupled with the resulting family and social complications, reportedly left him in a state of severe distress.

Police and local sources said that at around 11pm, relatives found Suruj Mia hanging from a mango tree near his home. He was rescued, but had already died by the time family members reached him. Police were later informed and went to the scene to recover the body.

Abdullah Al Mamun, officer-in-charge of Purbadhala Police Station, said the circumstances surrounding the death were being investigated. The body was recovered and arrangements were being made to send it to Netrokona Modern Sadar Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Police also took two women, including the woman who had claimed to be in a relationship with Helal, to the police station for questioning in connection with the incident. Legal proceedings were under way, according to police.

Authorities also said that Helal Mia had been missing from the area since the incident. Investigators are trying to establish why he left home and determine his role in the events surrounding the cancelled wedding and the subsequent death.

The incident has sparked widespread discussion in the locality, particularly because of the sudden appearance of two women making claims about the groom, the cancellation of a previously arranged marriage and the death of the groom’s father shortly afterwards.

Police, however, have cautioned that the precise circumstances leading to Suruj Mia’s death cannot be established until the investigation is completed. The post-mortem report and findings from the ongoing inquiry are expected to provide further clarity about what happened and the circumstances that may have contributed to his death.