Bangladesh police have recovered the body of former Air Force Flight Lieutenant K.M. Tahsif Souri from the Turag River in Dhaka, a day after he was reported missing. The discovery has prompted an investigation into the circumstances of his death, while questions have emerged over his reported connection to footage showing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaving Bangladesh in August 2024.
The 28-year-old former officer’s body was recovered near Rajabari Ghat on Wednesday afternoon, October 28, according to police. Inspector Firoz Uddin of the Tongi River Police Outpost said officers reached the location after receiving information through the national emergency helpline.
The body was subsequently taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital for an autopsy. Police said a mobile phone and wristwatch found with him helped establish his identity. The cause and circumstances of death remained under investigation.
Former Officer Was Reportedly Linked to Hasina Departure Footage
Tahsif came into public attention because of a video reportedly showing Sheikh Hasina leaving Bangladesh aboard an aircraft on August 5, 2024, after she was removed from office. Local media reports linked the former flight lieutenant to the recording or circulation of the footage.
During a podcast interview in July 2026, he was asked whether his departure from the Air Force was connected to the video. His brief response was that it was possible, without providing a definitive confirmation.
The circumstances surrounding his departure from military service have also been discussed publicly. In an earlier statement, Bangladesh's Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate said his retirement had been carried out under institutional rules and applicable procedures. The statement rejected allegations that the decision was connected to claims involving a foreign intelligence agency.
Police Examine Events Before His Disappearance
According to reports in Bangladeshi media, Tahsif went missing on Tuesday evening, October 27, after leaving his home in Uttara following a call from an acquaintance. He reportedly sent a message to his mother later that night saying he was returning, but did not reach home.
Investigators have since examined the movements of people who were with him before his disappearance. The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has been assisting the River Police with a parallel inquiry. A motorcycle found approximately three kilometres from the river recovery site is also being checked to establish whether it belonged to Tahsif. An acquaintance was taken into custody for questioning, but this does not establish involvement in his death.
Family Raises Questions as Investigation Continues
In a subsequent report, Tahsif’s family expressed suspicion that he may have been killed. Police, however, said the initial examination found no visible external injury marks, and the cause of death remained undetermined pending the autopsy findings. The family’s concerns have not, by themselves, established the cause of death or whether a crime occurred.
Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed declined to draw conclusions when questioned about a possible connection between the death and the Hasina-related video. He said authorities needed to complete the preliminary investigation and examine the autopsy findings before commenting.
The case has attracted attention because of the former officer’s reported connection to a politically significant episode in Bangladesh’s recent history. However, authorities have not publicly established that his death was linked to the video.
The investigation is expected to focus on the events leading up to his disappearance, the evidence recovered from the area and the medical findings. The circumstances of Tahsif Souri’s death remain unresolved, and any conclusions about responsibility or motive would be premature.
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