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Khaled Saifulla 18 Dec 2025 , 5:18 PM Print Edition
The body of Jannatara Rumi (30), a joint coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), was recovered Thursday morning from her room at a women’s hostel in Jigatala, Dhaka. While police preliminary suspect suicide, NCP leadership is labeling the death as “murder” driven by systematic harassment.
Discovery and Police Findings
The Scene: A hostel maid discovered Rumi hanging from a ceiling fan after the door latch gave way.
Evidence: Hazaribagh Police recovered antidepressant medication from her room. Marks were found around her neck, but the inquest report noted no other signs of physical struggle or injury.
Background: Police suggest personal depression following two divorces and separation from her two young children may have been factors.
Controversy: Suicide or Murder?
The NCP has rejected the suicide narrative, citing the psychological toll of political targeting:
Cyber Bullying: NCP leaders claim Rumi was subjected to intense online harassment, including rape and death threats, from Awami League-affiliated social media accounts.
The “Hit List”: Central joint convener Samanta Sharmin stated that Rumi had been placed on a “hit list” after a viral video showed her involved in an incident at Dhanmondi 32 last month.
Party Statement: NCP’s Tareq Reza asserted, “We are not ready to see this as a suicide. This is murder,” blaming the state for failing to protect her from cyber-terror.
Personal Life
Rumi, a nursing graduate from Gonoshasthaya Medical College, worked at a private organization in Dhaka. Following a post-mortem at Dhaka Medical College, her body was taken by relatives to her ancestral home in Naogaon for burial.
