Couple dies after consuming pesticide in Natore

A man and his wife have died after reportedly consuming pesticides together 'being failed to endure loan burden' in Baraigram upazila of Natore district.

The deceased were Faruk Hossain, 35, son of Mofiz Uddin, a resident of Bonpara Kalikapur colony in the upazila, and his wife Bithi Khatun, 24.

It was learned that the couple consumed pesticides together in their rented house in Haldarpara area under Bonpara municipality around 10 am on Friday to commit suicide.

Bithi died on the way to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital and Faruk was admitted to the facility.

Later, he was shifted to Bonpara Amena Hospital from RMCH's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as his relatives could not meet its expenses there.

He also passed away at about 11 pm around 12 hours after his wife's death.

Local municipal councilor Sharifunnesa Shirin and family members said Faruk, a fruit trader, took more than Tk 10 lakh loan at a higher interest rate from different samity (associations) and lenders to run business.

At one stage, he and his wife became worried about repaying the loan that led them to consume pesticide, they said.

RMCH on-duty doctor Shariful Islam said the couple took granular pesticides on empty stomach which caused their deaths.

Baraigram Police Station officer in-charge Abu Siddique said they primarily assume the couple took their own life by taking pesticide together being failed to endure the burden of the loan.

Two unnatural death cases were, however, filed in this connection, he said.

Rezaul Karim Reza/SU