Police recovered the body of former Air Force flight lieutenant Tahsif Souri from the Turag River near Rajabari Ghat on Wednesday afternoon, a day after he left his Uttara home, Prothom Alo English reported.
At around 1:35 am, hours before the body was found, Tahsif sent his mother a message saying he was coming home, his father told Prothom Alo. He never returned.
Several questions remain unanswered. The motorcycle he rode out on Tuesday is missing. His family says he had no known reason to visit the area where he was found. No case had been filed as of Prothom Alo English's report, and River Police say they are investigating all aspects of the incident.
What happened to Tahsif Souri before his death?
The account of Tahsif's last day comes from his father, KM Eneyetul Karim, and a relative, who spoke to Prothom Alo.
Tahsif lived in the Korobi building at the Rajuk Apartment Project in Sector 18 of Uttara, in the capital. His father said he spent Tuesday shopping with his mother and also bought some things for his father.
That evening, Dwip, a younger friend Tahsif was close to, came downstairs to call him. Tahsif went down, saying he would talk to Dwip and return shortly, according to his father.
When he did not come back, his mother called his mobile phone several times but could not reach him. The 1:35 am message followed. His father said it gave the impression that his son was busy.
Relatives later spoke to Dwip. According to the relatives, Dwip told them he had eaten with Tahsif on Tuesday night and then dropped him near his residential area before leaving.
The family kept searching. On Wednesday afternoon, his father went to Turag police station, but police had no information about his son at the time, Prothom Alo reported.
At around 5:15 pm, he received a call from Uttarkhan police station informing him that Tahsif's body had been recovered. Earlier that afternoon, the Tongi River Police outpost had recovered the body from the Turag near Rajabari Ghat. In a related report, Prothom Alo said Tahsif was identified through a mobile phone found with the body.
A missing motorcycle and an unfamiliar stretch of river
A relative said Tahsif had taken his motorcycle with him when he left home on Tuesday. The family has not been able to find out where it is.
Tahsif had been in a motorcycle accident about a month earlier, after which his family told him not to ride it anymore, according to Prothom Alo.
"We have also spoken to Dwip. But Tahsif's bike is missing. The police asked us for the bike's details and photographs. We have provided them. The police will be able to say more about this," the relative said.
His father said the family had no reason to believe Tahsif ever used to visit the area where his body was recovered.
Based on the family's account, several gaps remain:
- Where Tahsif went after Dwip says he dropped him near his residential area
- Where he was when he sent the 1:35 am message
- How he came to be near Rajabari Ghat
- Where his motorcycle is now
The research available does not report a cause of death or any autopsy findings.
Who was Tahsif Souri? Netra News, the BCB and a former Air Force career
Tahsif was the eldest of two brothers and a sister. His family said he served as a flight lieutenant in the Air Force and later lost his job.
His father told Prothom Alo that a "disciplinary" issue had been cited as the reason for his son's dismissal. The report did not give further details of the issue.
Tahsif later worked at the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Netra News, according to Prothom Alo.
"He was extremely gentle by nature and sociable. He had good relationships with everyone, both seniors and juniors," his father said.
Has a case been filed over Tahsif Souri's death?
No case had been filed over the recovery of the body as of the report.
Habibur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Uttarkhan police station, told Prothom Alo that police had not received any complaint and that the River Police are investigating the matter.
Firoz Uddin, an inspector at the Tongi River Police outpost, told Prothom Alo that no case had been filed and that all aspects of the incident were being investigated.
Police now have the motorcycle's details and photographs from the family. Neither the Uttarkhan police nor the River Police had said publicly where it might be.