A debt-ridden elderly man reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself at Faridganj upazila in Chandpur district in the early hours of Monday.

The deceased, Mrinal Roy, 60, hanged himself from a carambola tree near his house at Karaitoli under Paikpara South Union of the upazila.

A note he left behind revealed his despair over his inability to repay loans and his deep love for his family. The suicide note reads, "I am responsible for my death. I love my wife and children very much. I have never spent a night away from them. Unable to gather the money for the cooperative`s dues, I decided to end my life. Facing the disgrace of unpaid debts is worse than death. I urge my children to respect and take care of their mother."

Mrinal`s son, Tamal, a college student, said, "My father was an electrician by profession and supported the family by doing electrical work. He also arranged the marriages of my two sisters taking loans from several private lending institutions and NGOs. He owed approximately Tk 500,000 in total."

Last night, he had dinner and went to bed as usual. Early in the morning, he left the house and did not return.

Later, Tamal and his cousin Sajib found him hanging from a carambola tree near their house, he said.

Faridganj Police Station officer-in-charge Md. Saidul Islam confirmed the death and added that legal actions are underway in this regard.