Groom dies on eve of wedding

The deceased was identified as Arif Shahriar Soumik (21), a high-achieving graduate who had secured second position with first-class honors in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) from North South University.

The tragedy unfolded on Thursday evening, the day scheduled for the Gaye Holud ceremony, just hours before the wedding set for Friday (October 16). The bride’s family had already decorated their house and erected an illuminated gate to welcome the groom, while celebrations were underway at Soumik's family home in the David Company Para area of Gaibandha town.

The news of his sudden demise sent shockwaves through both households and the surrounding neighborhood.

According to Soumik's elder sister, Sharmin Sultana, he had returned home from Dhaka a month ago and had been suffering from a high fever for the past four days. As his body temperature rose abnormally on Thursday morning, family members took him to Maisha Diagnostic Centre, a private clinic opposite Gaibandha District Sadar Hospital, around 9:00 AM.

Sharmin alleged that after a long wait, a doctor identified as Dr Monir Hossain Murad finally examined Soumik and prescribed medication around 1:00 PM, after which the family took him back home.

As Soumik's condition deteriorated severely in the late afternoon, he was rushed to the Gaibandha District Sadar Hospital at around 5:30 PM. Sharmin alleged that Soumik was kept waiting in a rickshaw outside the emergency department for nearly an hour before on-duty doctors eventually declared him dead.