The tendency of attempt to suicide has increased in the country. On an average, more than five people try to commit suicide every day across the country. Compared to the previous year, the number of suicide attempts has increased by 72 percent last year.
Capital Dhaka is at the top of the list. Then it is Cumilla district.
Meherpur is in the lowest of the list. Although suicide attempts are low, Kushtia and adjoining Jhenaidah are on the list of suicide-torn districts.
According to experts, socio-economic problems, family crises as well as personal stress, depression and various forms of harassment are leading to an increase of suicides. The last six months of the year have the highest suicide rates.
Around 3,918 people have attempted suicide across the country in the two years from January 2020 to December 2021. Of those, 1,498 attempted suicide were in 2020. And last year, 2,420 people tried to commit suicide. In other words, the number of suicide attempts has increased by 72 percent last year as compared to 2020. Of those who attempted suicide, 2,243 were rescued alive but 1,675 died.
Dhaka is at the top among the suicide prone districts. In the last two years, 232 people have tried to commit suicide in this district. Of these, 112 were rescued alive but 120 died. Comilla is in the second position. In the last two years, 116 people have tried to commit suicide in this district. Sixty people rescued alive. Narayanganj district is in the third position. There have been 156 suicide attempts in the last two years. Of these, 75 have survived. Gazipur district is in the fourth position in terms of suicide. There have been suicides in the last two years 136 people tried and 76 people were rescued alive. Besides, Chittagong, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Nilphamari and Bogra are among the districts which have been leading in suicide trend in the last two years.
At the period, National Emergency Service Number 999 plays an important role in preventing suicide.
Additional DIG of the police Mohammad Tabarak Ullah is in charge of this service. He said suicide-related phone calls were taken very seriously. After receiving any such phone calls, the concerned police station was directed to take immediate action. It has been possible to prevent a number of recent suicides. To make this service more dynamic in the future, plans have been made to use advanced technology to verify the location of callers.
According to police, the lowest number of suicide attempts was in Meherpur district. Three people have tried to commit suicide there in the last two years. Two were rescued alive but one died. However, Kushtia and Jhenaidah districts adjoining to Meherpur are on the list of the districts leading in suicide tendency. Rangamati ranks second among the less suicide prone districts. Four people have tried to commit suicide in the last two years in the district. One died but three survived. Besides, Narail, Pirojpur, Chuadanga, Sunamganj and Sylhet are among the less suicide prone districts.
Suicide rates are highest in the last six months of the year.
According to police, 280 people attempted suicide in January, 293 in February, 346 in March, 289 in April and 279 in May in the last two years.
According to data from the last six months of the year, 316 people attempted suicide in June, 315 in July, 328 in August, 381 in September, 372 in October, 350 in November and 362 in December.