27/06/2025
Student Suicides in Bangladesh in 2024
In 2024, Bangladesh is witnessing a silent but growing tragedy: the rise in student su***des. According to the Aachol Foundation, at least 310 students from schools, colleges, universities, and madrasas took their own lives this year. Most heartbreaking of all, 61% of them were girls. This tells us that mental health struggles are especially affecting young women, who often carry the pressure of both academic and social expectations.
The majority of these students were teenagers aged 13 to 19, with secondary-level (SSC) students making up the largest group at 46.1%. Higher secondary students followed at 19.4%, and undergraduate students at 14.6%. These are the years when young people should be dreaming big—but instead, many are losing hope.
So what’s going wrong?
Emotional pain, such as heartbreak, family conflict, bullying, or loneliness, was the main reason behind 28.4% of student su***des. Academic pressure—fear of failure, heavy workload, or high expectations—was another major cause, responsible for 14.2%. In many families and schools, success is measured only by grades. This narrow view puts students under unbearable stress. Sadly, many feel like they have no way out.
Geographically, the problem is most visible in Dhaka, which reported 29% of student su***des. Other affected divisions include Khulna (17.7%) and Chittagong (15.8%). Urban areas often bring more competition, isolation, and less family time—all of which can harm mental health.
Though the national su***de rate of 2.81 per 100,000 people seems low compared to the global average of 9.1, experts warn the real numbers may be much higher. Many families hide su***de due to shame, and Bangladesh lacks a proper system for tracking such cases.
This crisis is not just about statistics—it’s about lives lost too soon. We need to break the silence around mental health, train teachers and parents to recognize warning signs, and build a system that supports students emotionally—not just academically.
Every life matters. Every student deserves to feel safe, valued, and heard. It’s time to act before more futures are lost.