VDP member dies on duty in Gaibandha

A Village Defence Party (VDP) member died after falling ill while on duty at a Durga Puja mandap in Sadullapur upazila of Gaibandha on Wednesday.

The deceased, Md Tara Mia, 56, reportedly suffered a heart attack, according to the district Ansar and VDP office, citing medical sources.

Tara Mia, son of Nasim Uddin of Maheshpur village in Sadullapur, was assigned to security duty at the Purba Kishamat Hamid Sarbojanin Durga Mandir.

He fell ill at around 2:30pm on Wednesday and was taken to Sadullapur Upazila Health Complex. Doctors advised transferring him to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.

However, his condition deteriorated on the way, prompting his relatives to take him to Pirganj Upazila Health Complex, where a doctor declared him dead.

Abu Solaiman, district commandant of the Gaibandha Ansar and VDP office, confirmed the death and said the initial medical information indicated that Tara Mia had suffered a heart attack.

His family scheduled his funeral prayer for 10am on Thursday, as one of his sons was away from home. The Ansar and VDP authorities provided Tk 50,000 in immediate financial assistance to the bereaved family, Solaiman added.

Earlier, another VDP member, Parvin Begum, 45, died after falling ill while on duty at a Durga Puja mandap in the same upazila on October 18. According to the district Ansar and VDP office, her death certificate indicated a heart attack.

This year, Durga Puja is being celebrated at 632 mandaps and temples across Gaibandha, where 4,002 male and female Ansar and VDP members have been deployed for security duties.