Former Under-19 cricketer Sajib found dead in his home in Rajshahi

Sajibul Islam Sajib, a member of the 2018 Bangladesh Under-19 World Cup squad, was found dead at his home in Amgachhi village under Rajshahi's Durgapur upazila today.

The 23-year-old batsman was found hanging from a rope tied to the ceiling inside his room when police broke the door down to recover his body around 11:45am, Hasmat Ali, officer-in-charge (OC) of Durgapur Police Station confirmed to our Rajshahi correspondent.

"His death was a suicide," the OC said quoting Sajib's family members and the police's primary investigation findings.

The OC said Sajib was suffering mentally after not being included for the upcoming Bangabandhu T20 Cup.

Sajib had locked himself in his room since Saturday night, the OC added.

"His father called him for dinner, but he told his father that he would not take dinner. At 10:00am in the morning today his father found Sajib was not responding despite repeated calls from outside. Later, Sajib's father managed to notice through a hole that his son was hanging from a rope and called the police," said Md Abdul Muktadir, director of Bangla Track Cricket Academy in Rajshahi, through which Sajib began his career.

Sajib played at under-13 and under-16 levels for Rajshahi district and division and also played the Dhaka Premier League for Old DOHS Cricket Club and Shinepukur Cricket Club in the 2018-19 season.

Sajib also played in the Under-19 national team in the 2017 Asia Cup after beginning his career through Bangla Track Cricket Academy in Rajshahi, Muktadir said.