Teacher, classmate in police custody after Dhaka University student’s ‘suicide’

Munira Mahzabin Mimo, a student in the 2019-20 batch of Dhaka University’s Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, is believed to have died by suicide at her home in the capital's Uttar Badda.

Police have taken one of her teachers and a classmate into custody for questioning over the incident, said Kazi Tamanna Haque Sigma, assistant professor and chairperson at the department, at 3pm on Sunday.

Tamanna said she had received word of the incident around 8am. Sudip Chakroborthy, a teacher of the department, has been taken into police custody, she said.

We have heard that a suicide note was found, she said.

It said, “Let Sudip Sir receive Tk 50,000.”

The name of a classmate was then mentioned.

“I wish the two of you well.”

The department has expressed its condolences over the incident.

“Munira Mahzabin, a talented second-semester MA student from our department, has left us unexpectedly and stunned with grief. None of us can believe that Mahzabin, who was very cheerful and strong-willed, would make such a decision. None of us can accept such a death. All the students, teachers, officers, and employees of the department are in mourning. We want justice to be served in this incident through a fair process.

"On behalf of the department, we express our deepest condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased. We hope that we will all be able to navigate this difficult situation together, with mutual sympathy and patience."