Meherpur women’s football team captain Sushmita no more

After nearly a month of medical treatment, Sushmita Khatun, the captain of the Meherpur District Women’s Football Team, has passed away. She died on Monday evening (September 1) at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Sushmita was a 10th-grade student at Meherpur Government Girls’ High School.

About a month ago, Sushmita attempted suicide by consuming sleeping pills. She was found in a critical condition and was first admitted to the 250-bed General Hospital in Meherpur. Later, she was transferred to Jashore General Hospital.

As her condition did not improve despite prolonged treatment, she was eventually taken to Dhaka, where she passed away under medical care on Monday.

Doctors stated that complications in her kidneys caused by the overdose of sleeping pills led to her death.

Sushmita was the granddaughter of freedom fighter Abdus Salam from Harirampur village in Meherpur Sadar upazila. In addition to football, she had also been a district-level champion in cricket and badminton multiple times.

Her death has cast a deep shadow of grief over Harirampur village, Meherpur Government Girls’ High School, and the sports community of the district.