Elderly man dies after falling ill at polling centre in Chattogram

An elderly man died after falling ill while waiting to cast his vote at a polling centre in Chattogram this morning (12 February).

The incident took place around 7:35am at the Kazir Dehri Boys High School centre. The deceased was identified as Monu Mia, 63, a resident of the Battery Goli area under Bagmoniram ward in the Chattogram-9 constituency. He was a security guard by profession.

The deceased's eldest son, Shakil, confirmed his father's death.

Witnesses said Monu Mia had arrived at the centre early in the morning to vote. He was standing in a queue when he suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed.

Family members rushed him to National Hospital, where the physician on duty declared him dead.

Local resident Fazlur Rahman said the elderly man had been in line from the early hours. "He came to vote in the morning. While standing in the queue, he suddenly fell sick and collapsed," he said.

Family members suspect he may have suffered complications related to diabetes, as he had been a diabetic patient.

Presiding Officer of the centre Faruk Ahmed confirmed the incident to TBS. "An elderly voter fell sick a few minutes after voting started. Locals rushed him to a hospital. We heard that he died there."

The sudden death has cast a shadow of grief over the family and the neighbourhood.