Jagannath University student found dead in Chankharpul mess
Anik Chandra Paul. Collected photo.
The body of Anik Chandra Paul, a student of Jagannath University (JnU), was recovered hanging from the ceiling fan at a student mess in the Chankharpul area of the capital. His body was recovered on Tuesday night (September 15) from a mess on B K Ganguly Lane under Banshal Police Station.
Anik Chandra Paul was a student in the Department of Drawing and Painting at Jagannath University for the 2023-24 academic year. His hometown is Sylhet. His body is currently kept at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue.
Joy Bhuiyan, a messmate and fellow JnU student, said Anik had been unresponsive since Monday. At around 9:30 PM on Tuesday, one of Anik's classmates called after failing to reach him by phone and requested that someone check on him at the mess.
Joy Bhuiyan said, "Two of us knocked on the door of Anik's room for a long time, but there was no response from inside. Since the door was locked from the inside, we grew suspicious. We then broke a window pane and looked inside to see Anik hanging from the ceiling fan with a towel (gamcha) tied around his neck. We broke open the door, rescued him, and took him to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where the attending doctor pronounced him dead."
According to classmates and messmates, Anik had broken up with his girlfriend two days before the incident and had become very quiet and introvert. His mobile phone was also found turned off and damaged.
Upon receiving the news, Subas Paul, Assistant Professor of the Drawing and Painting Department and Assistant Proctor of the university, rushed to DMCH. He said, "Shortly after the students informed me of the matter, I arrived at Dhaka Medical. But upon reaching there, I found that our student was no longer alive."
He added, "I am in contact with Anik's family and have spoken with his father. Once the family members arrive, the necessary procedures at the hospital and police station will be completed. Following legal formalities in the presence of his relatives, the body will be handed over to the family."
In this regard, the Social Services Secretary of the Jagannath University Central Student Union (JACSU) said that he contacted Anik's friends after learning about the situation at night while he was being rushed to DMCH, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival. Initial reports suggested the incident was linked to a broken relationship.
The university administration initially suspects that Anik may have committed suicide due to the relationship breakup. However, investigations and legal procedures by relevant authorities are ongoing to confirm the exact cause of death.
