Former Bangladeshi officer found dead after Hasina video row

A former Bangladesh Air Force officer, KM Tahsif Suri, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on Wednesday, days after allegedly facing harassment over a controversial video concerning former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s departure from the country.

According to foreign media reports, Suri had been accused of uploading a controversial video showing details surrounding Hasina’s departure from Bangladesh after the collapse of her government.

His body was recovered from the Turag River on October 28, a day after he went missing. He was reportedly wearing a black shirt and white trousers when his body was found.

Police recovered the body of the 28-year-old former officer near Rajbari Ghat in the Uttarkhan area of Dhaka at around 4:30pm. Authorities reached the location after receiving information through the national emergency helpline.

Suri’s family has alleged that he had been subjected to persistent harassment since the controversial video involving the former prime minister surfaced. They suspect that the video was directly linked to his killing.

However, police have not yet established the cause of his death or confirmed whether it was a murder. His cousin, Mushfika Jahan, has also alleged that he was killed because of the video related to Sheikh Hasina.

His death has renewed questions about the circumstances surrounding his earlier dismissal from the Bangladesh Air Force and other controversies involving him.

Previously, a newspaper report had alleged that Suri was working as a spy for India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Following the publication of the report, the government reportedly confiscated his passport for two years.

A few months ago, Suri appeared on a podcast where he openly criticised the newspaper over the allegations. Although he hinted at several significant issues during the discussion, he refrained from disclosing further details.

The circumstances surrounding his death have raised fresh concerns, particularly given the allegations of harassment and the controversies that reportedly followed the publication of the video.

Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh aboard a military aircraft for India in August 2024 following weeks of violent protests that led to the collapse of her government. She has remained in exile in India since then. However, she has announced plans to return to Bangladesh in December this year.