Dr Kaafee found dead 10 hrs after 911phone glitch in US

According to US media reports, an apparent telephone glitch sent emergency personnel to wrong address leading them to believe that the 911 (help line) call of Kaafee was unfounded.

Family members of Kaafee, former lecturer of economics department of Dhaka University, issued a press release in Dhaka yesterday announcing his death from a massive heart attack.

Son of ex-narcotics controller late MA Qasim and Bul Bul-E-Jannat, Kaafee left behind his wife, five-year-old daughter, mother, siblings and host of relatives and admirers to mourn his death.

He received a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Cornell University in 2002.

Kaafee, who had recently started working at Medimmune Inc, a medical company, walked into his office shortly before 9:00am on Tuesday.

The 39-year-old sales representative made the first call from his desk at 9:02am, and roughly 40 minutes later, he again called 911 to say he needed medical help.

But almost 10 hours had passed before someone found his body lying on the floor.

US police said an apparent phone glitch sent emergency personnel to the wrong address leading them to believe that the 911 call was unfounded.

The police officer, who documented the death, wrote in a preliminary report that the error was in the technology of the company phone system.

A spokesman for the Montgomery County's Fire and Rescue Service said Kaafee was not able to provide an address when he called.

His body was found after emergency services received another call, this time from a worker at the building in which Kaafee's office was located.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dr Kaafee Billah," said Medimmune spokeswoman Lori Weiman, adding, "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

His body is expected to reach Dhaka today and his namaz-e-janaza will be held at Gulshan Mosque after Zohr prayers.

He will be buried at Banani graveyard.

A doa mahfil will be held after Asr prayers on April 28 at House- 44A, Road-116, Gulshan.