A Grameen Bank official died after falling ill from consuming gas tablets during an audit in Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj on Tuesday.
Md Abdus Salam, 50, manager of the bank’s Nimgachhi branch, died around 9pm while undergoing treatment at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura.
The incident occurred around 7pm in the Nimgachhi area under Sonakhara Union in Raiganj.
Police took three members of the bank’s audit committee to the police station for questioning following his death, though law enforcers said it had not yet been confirmed whether Abdus Salam had committed suicide due to pressure related to the audit.
Abdus Salam was a resident of Ishwardi upazila in Pabna and lived in a rented house in the area with his wife and two children.
According to the bank officials, an internal audit had been underway at the branch for several days, during which Abdus Salam was observed to be depressed. On Tuesday evening, he reportedly consumed two gas tablets containing a high concentration of pesticide.
Shafiqul Islam, an employee at the branch, said Abdus Salam appeared worried during the audit. When asked what was wrong, Salam told him, “They did not let me live. I will die.”
He later said that he had consumed gas tablets. He fell ill and was then rushed to a hospital, Shafiqul said, adding that agitated locals and bank staff besieged and confined the audit committee members.
Upon receiving the information, police reached the scene around 3am to bring the situation under control and took the three persons to the police station.
Md Ahsanuzzaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Raiganj Police Station, said no written complaint had been lodged regarding the incident so far. He said necessary action would be taken following an investigation once a formal complaint was received.
It could not be confirmed before an investigation whether there was any direct connection between the audit proceedings and Abdus Salam’s death, the OC added.
Statements from Grameen Bank authorities and the deceased’s family could not be obtained.
