Dhaka: Mental health experts and activists on Thursday called for repealing a colonial era law that criminalises attempted suicide, at a gathering and candlelight vigil held at TSC, Dhaka University, to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. The event, themed "Changing the Conversation, Strengthening Prevention, Saving Lives," was organised by the Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation (IWF), the Student Guidance Office of TSC, and the Nasirullah Psychotherapy Unit, Department of Clinical Psychology, Dhaka University.
According to United News of Bangladesh, organisers cited police records indicating that 76,361 people died by suicide in Bangladesh between 2020 and 2024, with an additional 13,491 deaths between January and November 2025. Media-identified cases highlighted that 513 students died by suicide in 2023, 310 in 2024, and 403 in 2025. Following the 2026 SSC results published on August 10, at least 10 student suicides were reported nationwide. However, organisers cautioned that these media-based figures are incomplete.
Speakers at the event emphasized the implications of Section 309 of the Penal Code, 1860, which remains in force and punishes attempted suicide with up to a year's imprisonment, a fine, or both. Kamal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, a professor at Dhaka University's Department of Clinical Psychology, stated that the law penalizes individuals already in severe distress and advocated for the establishment of suicide-prevention centres in all 503 upazilas.
Imdadul Haque Talukdar, a public mental health specialist, called for reform of the law, highlighting its colonial origins. He referenced WHO estimates that Bangladeshi households bear the majority of health costs out of pocket and suggested New Zealand's "wellbeing budget" as a model for prioritizing mental health spending.
Mahmuda Rahman Khan, chief operating officer of the Global Center of Excellence, discussed Suicide First Aid, an international training programme that teaches laypeople to assess risk using a framework she referred to as CPR: current plan, previous attempts, resources. Drawing from her personal experience with postpartum depression, she pointed out that individuals rarely announce suicidal intent directly but often signal it indirectly. "No one who attempts suicide truly wants to die," she remarked. "They cannot see a way out of the problem consuming them."
Organisers urged the government, institutions, health professionals, media, and families to enhance prevention strategies, support pathways, responsible reporting, and open conversation, linking the effort to SDG target 3.4. The event concluded with a candlelight vigil.