A Pakistani national working in Bangladesh called the national emergency service 999 early Wednesday, threatening to take his own life after being emotionally distressed over a family dispute, police said.

According to 999 officials, the call was received around 1:00am on Tuesday night (technically after midnight, early Wednesday) from Sector 18 of Uttara in Dhaka.

During the call, the male caller identified himself as a Pakistani citizen and a textile engineer employed at an export-oriented company in Bangladesh. He said he married a Bangladeshi woman four years ago and the couple has two children.

The caller alleged that although he earns Tk200,000 per month and hands over most of his salary to his wife, she continues to demand more money on various pretexts. He also claimed that his wife has been blackmailing him by making false allegations of extramarital affairs.

Breaking down in tears, the caller told the 999 operator that he was driving while speaking and was mentally shattered, adding that he intended to commit suicide.

The 999 call-taker repeatedly urged him to calm down and stop the vehicle, assuring him of legal assistance and counselling. Based on the caller’s address, the officer-in-charge of Turag Police Station was immediately brought into the call.

The emergency call was received by 999 call-taker Constable Bayezid, while overall monitoring and coordination with the concerned police station were handled by 999 dispatcher SI Sabbir Ahmed Nixon.

Upon receiving the information, a police team from Turag Police Station rushed to the caller’s residence. The caller’s colleagues and friends were informed and brought to the house, while his mother-in-law also arrived later.

During the intervention, the caller’s wife alleged that he frequently returns home late at night. In the presence of family members and others, police facilitated a reconciliation between the couple.

At that time, neither the husband nor the wife agreed to lodge any formal complaint against each other. Police advised them to seek legal assistance and file written complaints at the police station in future if necessary.