River police recovered the body of 28‑year‑old KM Tahsif Souri on October 28, the day after he was reported missing. He was wearing a black shirt and white trousers, and an iPhone in his pocket confirmed his identity. The body was found near Rajabari Ghat, a spot locals say he had no business in.
Souri had been dismissed from the Bangladesh Air Force in 2023 after a fringe newspaper accused him of spying for India’s intelligence agency. The government seized his passport for two years, a move he and his family say was retaliation for a video he uploaded of Sheikh Hasina fleeing the country in August 2024. The video, filmed from a military helicopter, was later shared on a popular podcast where Souri denied the spying charges.
Family members claim Souri was harassed after the video surfaced. His father, Enayetul Karim, told a local paper that his son had no reason to be near the river where his body was found. His cousin, Moshfeka Jahan, posted on Facebook that Souri was murdered because of the video, accusing the state of “mental torture” leading to his death.
River police said they received a 4:30‑pm call on the emergency helpline the night of October 27. They found Souri’s body the next day and sent him for autopsy at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital. The police are conducting a forensic investigation, and the case has been forwarded to the Dhaka Crime Branch for further inquiry.
The incident comes weeks before Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death in her home country, is expected to return from her exile in India. The video of her evacuation has already sparked international debate about the legitimacy of the protest‑led change of government in Bangladesh. Analysts say the murder could intensify scrutiny of the government’s handling of political dissent.
The next steps will involve a formal police report and a court hearing to determine whether the death was a homicide or an accident. The family has requested a public inquiry, while the government has yet to comment publicly on the investigation.