The unusual incident took place on Thursday (5 November) night in the Tikkapatti area of Jamalpur town. The young man initially refused to climb down, fearing that police would arrest him as soon as he reached the ground. He eventually agreed to descend after fire service personnel spent considerable time reassuring him.
According to local residents, the young man entered the Tikkapatti neighbourhood at around 9pm, allegedly intending to commit theft. His movements reportedly attracted the attention of people in the area. When residents realised what he was allegedly attempting to do, they chased him.
Frightened by the pursuit, the young man quickly climbed a nearby coconut tree in an attempt to escape. However, what may initially have seemed like a way out soon turned into a difficult situation. Despite spending a considerable amount of time in the tree, he refused to come down.
As the situation continued, local residents sought assistance from the national emergency service and the fire service at around 10pm. A fire service rescue team subsequently arrived at the scene and began efforts to bring him down safely.
Rescue workers tried several approaches to persuade the young man to descend. They spoke to him repeatedly, offered reassurance and even attempted to encourage him with the promise of money. Despite their efforts, he remained reluctant to move, reportedly convinced that coming down would result in his immediate arrest by the police.
The rescue operation continued for approximately two and a half to three hours. Throughout the ordeal, the young man held on to the tree and remained at a considerable height, making the situation increasingly challenging for those trying to bring him to safety.
Eventually, the rescue workers managed to calm him through continued conversation and reassurance. At around 12.30am, he finally climbed down from the tree on his own, bringing the unusual incident to an end. He was rescued without sustaining any injuries.
RabiuI Islam, senior station master of Jamalpur Fire Service, confirmed the incident. He said the rescue team had rushed to the location immediately after receiving the emergency call.
According to him, the young man’s main concern was that police would take him into custody if he came down. His fear of arrest was the principal reason behind his prolonged refusal to leave the tree.
Islam said fire service personnel continued trying to reassure him until he eventually agreed to descend without assistance. The police subsequently questioned him and completed the initial formalities before releasing him in good health.
The incident drew considerable attention among local residents because of its unusual circumstances. What began as an alleged attempt at theft turned into an extended rescue operation, requiring patience and careful communication from emergency responders.
The episode also highlighted the challenges rescue workers can face when dealing with people who are frightened or unwilling to cooperate. In this case, repeated reassurance and a calm approach proved more effective than force, allowing the operation to conclude safely.
