According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 10 percent of the population experience various types of 'minor' psychological problems, while one per cent can be defined as clinically insane.

"One of the major factors behind these urban psychological problems is the 'social isolation' that goes hand in hand with unfettered urbanisation." said Dr AHM Firoz, director of National Mental Health Institute (NMHI).

"The huge number of mentally ill citizens in Dhaka can be considered a 'time bomb', which may explode at any moment, take the example of Tula Miah of Mymensign who killed his son last year," Firoz Added.

The NMHI at Agargoan treats 55 to 60 patients every day on average. Some 40 per cent of those are residents of the capital.

Most of these urban patients suffer from problems such as hypersensitivity, depression, frustration, jealousy and open hostility towards others. As a result of this they have a higher rate of suicide and drug addiction than their rural counterparts. A recent study conducted by the Bangladesh Association of Psychiatrists revealed that 10-11 per cent of the urban population is having psychological problems such as schizophrenia and different types of mood disorders, rather than minor psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, or sleep disorders.

"Most of the population are not aware of these mental disorders which can be described as an urban cancer", Dr Firoz explains. "One per cent of city's population needs psychological treatment immediately, otherwise they will be a burden to their families as well as to society," Firoz added.