Journalist Pulak to wife and daughter: “Please Forgive Me”
Former Barishal bureau chief of Dainik Samakal and senior journalist Pulak Chatterjee
Police have said that five suicide notes were recovered in connection with the death of former Barishal bureau chief of Dainik Samakal and senior journalist Pulak Chatterjee. Pulak left separate notes addressed to his wife and daughter, his younger brother and sister-in-law, the general secretary of the Barishal Press Club, a longtime colleague, and the administration.
In a note addressed to his wife Priyanka and daughter Prakriti, Pulak said, “Please forgive me. Nothing in this world stops for anyone.” He advised his daughter Prakriti to continue her studies and music lessons. He also asked his younger brother Dipak to stand by his wife and daughter.
Pulak’s body was recovered from the Samakal office on Parara Road in the city on Friday evening. Police later sent the body to the morgue of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal.
In a note addressed to the administration, Pulak said that no one was responsible for his death. He said he had taken the decision after being unable to endure his prolonged physical illness and suffering. The note also mentioned that he had sought treatment both at home and abroad in an effort to recover.
In the note, he requested the administration not to subject his body to any kind of harassment and to hand it over to his family.
In a note addressed to S M Zakir Hossain, general secretary of the Barishal Press Club, Pulak bade him farewell. Referring to their longstanding relationship and memories, he asked him to keep in touch with his family and look after them.
In a note addressed to his younger brother Dipak and sister-in-law Iti, Pulak asked them to take care of his wife Priyanka and daughter Prakriti. He also mentioned taking necessary steps regarding various financial matters and money owed to him.
In a note addressed to longtime colleague Suman Chowdhury, who is currently in charge of the Barishal bureau of Dainik Samakal, Pulak expressed his regret. Recalling their nearly 18 years of working together, he asked Suman to forgive him if he had ever caused him any pain. He also requested Suman to collect the money owed to him by Samakal and hand it over to his wife Priyanka.
Police and local sources said locals found Pulak dead at the Samakal office on Friday evening. After being informed, police went to the scene and recovered the body. Later, at around 9pm, the body was sent to the morgue of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal.
Barishal Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abu Raihan Muhammad Saleh said a suicide note had been found at the scene. He said the matter was under investigation.
Pulak Chatterjee had served as the Barishal bureau chief of Dainik Samakal. He was dismissed from his job in May 2023. Colleagues said he had been suffering from depression since then. He would occasionally visit the Samakal office and sit there.
Pulak was a former general secretary of the Barishal Press Club. At the time of his death, he was serving as a senior member of the Press Club’s executive committee.
