The body of former Bangladesh Air Force officer Tahsif Souri was recovered from the Turag River on Wednesday, one day after he went missing from his Uttara home. Authorities are investigating his death, while public discussion centers on his alleged connection to a video of Sheikh Hasina’s 2024 departure.
Recovery of the Body in the Turag River
Tahsif Souri, a 28-year-old former flight lieutenant, was reported missing by his family on Tuesday, October 27, after he left his residence in Sector 18 of Uttara. His father, K.M. Enayetul Karim stated that his son had left the house following a call from a local younger brother and failed to return. The family attempted to contact him throughout the night, receiving a final message from his phone at 1:35 a.m. that read, Ammu, I am coming
(Mother, I am coming). CCTV footage from the residence captured Souri wearing a green panjabi and meeting an individual near a running blue motorcycle before departing.
On Wednesday afternoon, the National Emergency Service 999 received reports of a floating body near the Rajabari Ghat in the Turag River. Officers from the Tongi River Police outpost recovered the remains, which were later identified as Souri’s. Police identified the body using the mobile phone and wristwatch found on the deceased.
Public Speculation Regarding the August 5 Video
Souri’s death has triggered widespread debate due to persistent claims linking him to the recording and dissemination of a video showing then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina departing the country on August 5, 2024. While Souri acknowledged in a July 21 podcast interview on the Speak With Rashid
YouTube channel that he had been accused of distributing the footage, he denied filming it. He questioned the evidence presented in reports, stating, I have some constraints. I think they did this because of that allegation. Souri’s friend, KSM Intisar Injimam, who served with him as a 79 BMA equivalent coursemate at the Bangladesh Military Academy, claimed that Souri had faced significant social harassment following the viral spread of the video.
The former officer’s career path was also subject to intense scrutiny. In September 2024, the Bangladesh Air Force dismissed Souri and another officer, Flight Lieutenant Rifat Ashrafee, citing disciplinary grounds. Souri had told his father that he felt apprehensive regarding his situation. Although some media reports previously alleged that their discharge was linked to foreign intelligence agency involvement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement in August 2025 dismissing those claims as misleading and stating the officers were processed according to standard service regulations.
Police Launch Investigation into Former Military Officer Death
Following the recovery of the body, the police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad stated on Thursday that he would not comment on the case until the preliminary investigation and autopsy results are finalized. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has formally demanded a transparent and impartial inquiry into the death of the former military officer, questioning the accountability of the intelligence agencies involved. Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar expressed deep concern, stating that state agencies have a fundamental responsibility to ensure the safety of citizens.
Souri’s father, K.M. Enayetul Karim, has described the event as a murder, noting that his son had never gone to that area near the Rajabari Ghat. Investigators from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) are currently analyzing evidence from the scene and examining the movements of the individual who accompanied Souri on the night of his disappearance. Souri had previously expressed uncertainty about his future, remarking in his final interview, That might be the reason why I am not in the Air Force today.
The body of former Bangladesh Air Force Flight Lieutenant KM Tahsif Souri, 28, was recovered from the Turag River in Dhaka on October 28, a day after he went missing. His death has triggered allegations of murder from his family, who claim he faced harassment over a video showing… pic.twitter.com/23KJbsGdue
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The body of former Bangladesh Air Force Flight Lieutenant KM Tahsif Souri, who was reportedly linked to a video showing ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina was recovered from the Turag River on Wednesday, one day after he went missing.Details: https://t.co/YPORYcvavX