DHAKA, Oct 29: The body of former Bangladesh Air Force Flight Lieutenant KM Tahsif Souri was recovered from the Turag River in the capital on Thursday, a day after he went missing, police said.
Souri, who was in his late 20s, had reportedly recorded a video showing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaving Bangladesh aboard an Air Force aircraft on August 5, 2024, following the collapse of her government.
Tongi River Police Outpost Officer in Charge Firoz Uddin said the body was retrieved from the Rajabari Ghat area after police received information about it on Wednesday afternoon. Souri was wearing white trousers and a black shirt when his body was found.
The remains were subsequently sent to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Uddin declined to provide details about whether any visible injury marks were found on the body.
A mobile phone and wristwatch recovered alongside the remains helped police establish his identity.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed refrained from commenting on whether Souri’s death could be connected to hostility surrounding the video of Hasina’s departure, saying an investigation was necessary before drawing any conclusions.
“I don’t want to say anything about this as there has to be a preliminary investigation. The body has been sent for autopsy. We will speak after we know all the details,” Ahmed told reporters.
According to Bangla-language newspaper Prothom Alo, Souri had spent Tuesday shopping with his mother before leaving home in the evening after receiving a call from a friend. Later that night, he messaged his mother, saying he was on his way back, but failed to return.
Souri was dismissed from the Air Force in August 2024 and was reportedly under intelligence surveillance.
During a social media podcast in July, he was asked whether he had lost his job because of recording Hasina’s departure. His brief response was, “could be”.
In a statement issued in August last year, the Bangladesh Army said Souri had been retired in accordance with institutional rules under different circumstances and that there were no allegations against him.
Authorities are awaiting the autopsy findings as the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.