Inmate attempts suicide in jail

A murder convict, serving life imprisonment, attempted to commit suicide inside Rajshahi Central Jail early yesterday.

The inmate, Akhtar Hossain, 52, was rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital after he injured himself by penetrating a sharp metal object into his lower abdomen around 12:30am, said Halima Khatun, superintendent of the jail.

A surgery was conducted on the inmate, imprisoned for last 14 years, and his condition was improving, she said, adding that Akhtar used a piece of a sharpened old metal plate, given to him for eating his  meal, to commit suicide with. Akhtar was given a death sentence in a murder case and later the sentence was reduced to life term imprisonment upon his appeal to the High Court. Further details on the murder case were unavailable as the case documents are with the High Court, said Halima.