Dhaka, 8 February 2026: Police recovered the lifeless body of a Jagannath University (JNU) student from a hostel in the Kalabazar area of Old Dhaka on Sunday evening. The student, identified as Rakiba Sultana, was found hanging in her room at approximately 9:30 PM near the WASA water pump locality.
Rakiba was a 20th batch student of the Department of Islamic History and Culture at Jagannath University. Her family hails from Debhata Upazila in Satkhira District.
According to her roommate, Rakiba had kept her room door closed throughout the day. Around 9 PM, one of her friends visited her, but when knocking proved ineffective, the hostel management was informed.
“We knocked for about 15 to 20 minutes, but there was no response. We then called the landlord. A young man came from below and broke open the door with a hammer, and we found her hanging inside,” her roommate recounted.
Rakiba’s brother, Nayeem Hossain, stated that he last spoke with her the previous night. She had informed their mother that she was feeling unwell and would call later, but no further communication took place. When repeated attempts by her mother to reach her failed, Rakiba’s friends went to the hostel. Unable to open the door from the outside, they sought assistance to break it open, ultimately discovering Rakiba inside.
Police have so far refrained from confirming the cause of death. Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nazmul Haque said, “We reached the scene after receiving information. At this point, we are not labelling it a suicide. Post-mortem examination may reveal other factors. We do not want to speculate.”
Assistant Proctor Ferdous Hasan confirmed that Rakiba’s body had been taken to Midford Hospital. He added that further details would be shared once official procedures are completed.
Key Information:
| Name | Rakiba Sultana |
|---|---|
| University | Jagannath University |
| Department | Islamic History and Culture |
| Batch | 20th |
| Age | Not specified |
| Home District | Debhata Upazila, Satkhira |
| Location Found | Hostel, Kalabazar, Old Dhaka |
| Time Found | 8 February, 9:30 PM |
| Recovery Hospital | Midford Hospital |
| Current Status | Post-mortem pending, investigation ongoing |
Authorities have urged anyone with additional information to come forward. The incident has sent shockwaves across the university community, prompting calls for increased mental health awareness and support systems within student hostels.
