Deaths of two Canadian youths of Bangladeshi origin, who reportedly committed suicide, have sent shock waves through the Bangladeshi community in Toronto.
Both the youths had suffered from depression for a long time and eventually committed suicide, according to family sources.
Community leaders organised a meeting to discuss the causes and possible measures of preventing youths from becoming susceptible to suicide.
Over 100 parents and some youngsters attended the meeting held at the auditorium of the Bangladesh Centre and Community Services at Danforth where over 30 percent of the voters are Bangladeshi expatriates.
Fahmi Arif Rahman and Sabith Khandaker committed suicide after a prolonged depression, according to police and family sources.
Fahmi, 21, disappeared from home in February and his body was found near the Lake Ontario on Mar 30.
Little had been reported about Sabith’s death, but his father Selim Khandaker and mother attended the community meeting on Apr 9.
Vice-president of Bangladesh Centre Mahbub Reza told media that they decided to hold the meeting after they buried the body of Fahim at Pickering graveyard on Apr 1.
A sombre mood descended on the room when Sabith’s father Selim expressed his agony and sought blessings for his son. The speakers looked for answers to the question as to why in a society which provides almost all supports to its residents, someone should become suicide-prone.
The parents were urged to keep an eye on their children if they were showing any sign of depression and report the matter to appropriate authorities if need be.
The meeting was also told that a newly formed organisation called LIGHT would work on the issue in the Bangladeshi community. According to a 2016 survey, some 46 percent of the students in Ontario province suffer from depression, of which 13 percent become prone to suicide.
