Auto-rickshaw Driver's Suicide Due to Debt Pressure: Note Reads 'Don't Pay Interest, Don't Pay Installments'

The hanging body of a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw driver named Shamsuddin (32) was recovered in Paba Upazila, Rajshahi. Police found a note beside the body, which read, "Don't pay interest, don't pay installments."

The deceased Shamsuddin was from Samaspur village in Talanda Bazar area of Tanore Upazila, Rajshahi. His wife, Shila Khatun, stated that Shamsuddin had a lot of debt and had also been sued. Yesterday, Wednesday, was the day for a court appearance for one of his cases. Shila Khatun believes he committed suicide without attending the hearing. She has filed a case of unnatural death at Paba Police Station.

Family sources said that Shamsuddin owned a motorcycle parts shop in Talanda Bazar, Tanore. He had taken out a loan to buy a microbus. When the microbus was destroyed in an accident, he could not repay the loan. To pay off the loan installments, he took out more loans. At one point, his debt burden continued to grow. About six months ago, to avoid creditors, he sold his shop and moved to Dhaka with his family. However, unable to stay there, they returned and moved into his in-laws' house in Kazipara area of Nowhata, Paba Upazila. While Shila Khatun stayed at her in-laws' house, Shamsuddin rented a room in a student dormitory at Nowhata College More. He was in that dormitory to hide from creditors. Yesterday afternoon, locals found his hanging body in the dormitory room and informed the police. Later, Paba Police Station and Fire Service personnel broke down the door and recovered the body.

Monirul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Paba Police Station, said, "Upon receiving the information, police and fire service personnel broke down the door and entered the room to recover the hanging body. The body has been sent to the morgue of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. Two bottles of poison and a suicide note were recovered from the scene. It is initially believed that he committed suicide due to debt pressure. The actual cause of death will be known after receiving the post-mortem report."

Shamsuddin's wife, Shila Khatun, has filed a case of unnatural death at Paba Police Station. Speaking with Shila Khatun around 8:30 PM last night, she said that Wednesday was the date for the debt case hearing. When Shamsuddin came home at noon, she asked about the hearing, and he said he hadn't attended and had paid the lawyer and left. Although Shila Khatun offered her husband rice, he left with his auto-rickshaw without eating while she went to get curry. When his two daughters tried to cling to their father's vehicle, he said, "Hold the children, I'm going to drive the car." Later that afternoon, the news of his death arrived.

Shila Khatun confirmed that the note found beside the body was written by her husband. She stated that her husband's handwriting was not clear. He had written his message on the back of a sweet packet.

At the end of the note, Shamsuddin wrote, "...Everyone stay well. I am leaving." In one place inside, he wrote, "...Don't pay interest, don't pay installments." Although the context of interest was mentioned in one or two other places, the entire sentence could not be fully deciphered. On one side of the note, it read, "Let my child live well. Forgive me if you can. I couldn't give anything to my mother and brother."