Fact-checking organization Rumor Scanner has debunked a false claim about the alleged murder of a Hindu NGO worker named Shukla Dey Tikli in Boalkhali, Chittagong.
In a report published on its website on Saturday, Rumor Scanner highlighted that social media platforms recently circulated claims that Shukla Dey Tikli, a Hindu woman, was killed in a communal attack.
However, investigations revealed that the incident was, in fact, a case of suicide caused by mental stress, misrepresented as a communal killing.
The investigation referenced a report titled "Body of a Female NGO Worker Recovered in Chittagong on January 6" published by Jamuna Television.
The image of the woman in the claim matched the photo used in the Jamuna Television report, confirming her identity as Shukla Dey.
Shukla was employed as a field worker at Rupsha Sarbik Gram Unnayan Samabay Samity Limited, a financial institution.
On January 4, police recovered her body from her home in Palpara, Sreepur-Kharandwip union.
Her family disclosed that she was under immense pressure from her employer to recover loan installments, leading her to take her own life.
Shukla’s husband, Sidul Pal, has filed a case against four officials of the institution, accusing them of inciting her suicide.
According to the case, Shukla joined the Kanungopara branch of the institution in May 2023 as a field worker.
The institution provides microloans to locals, but since August 5, there had been delays in recovering installments, causing friction between Shukla and her supervisors.
In November, the institution deducted unpaid installments from Shukla’s salary, further exacerbating her mental distress.
The case alleges that persistent pressure and harassment led her to commit suicide.
Independent TV also published a report corroborating these findings.
Rumor Scanner concluded that the claim circulating online about Shukla Dey’s suicide being a communal murder is misleading and unfounded.
