Law & Justice

Former Air Force Officer KM Tahsif Souri Found Dead in Dhaka River After Disappearance

By Bhanu Pratap

KM Tahsif Souri, a 28‑year‑old former Bangladesh Air Force officer, was reported missing on Tuesday, October 27. The next day, his body was recovered from the Turag River in Dhaka. Police said a post‑mortem examination will determine the exact cause of death. Inspector Firoz Uddin of the Tongi River Police Outpost said the body was found near Rajabari Ghat in the Uttarkhan area at about 4.30 pm on Wednesday, October 28. The body was initially treated as that of an unidentified man; an iPhone and a wristwatch found in his pocket helped confirm his identity. The body was taken to the morgue at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital for examination. An inquest report by Sub‑Inspector Mostafizur Rahman recorded no visible external injuries, noted that blood was coming from his nose, his eyes were closed, his abdomen appeared swollen, and his arms were bent toward his head with both hands clenched into fists.

Souri’s cousin, Moshfeka Jahan, posted on Facebook at 3.04 am on Thursday, October 29, alleging that Souri had been murdered because of his connection to footage showing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaving Bangladesh. Jahan said Souri had faced prolonged mental harassment after the video circulated online and that he had only shared a video made by another officer, not recorded it himself. She claimed that the pressure continued even after he left the Air Force and that “they had to kill him.” These allegations have not been independently verified, and police have not confirmed a motive.

Souri’s death has drawn attention to his departure from military service. In August last year, the Bangladesh‑based newspaper Amar Desh, described as affiliated with Jamaat‑e‑Islami, claimed that Souri was an agent of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW); the claim was reported to be false. Following the allegation, the government seized his passport for two years. Souri later appeared on a podcast and criticised the newspaper, saying he had more to disclose about the episode but chose not to speak about everything he knew.

Souri was also suspected of recording the footage of Hasina’s departure aboard a military helicopter on August 5, 2024, after weeks of violent protests that led to the collapse of her government. His family, speaking to the newspaper Prothom Alo, said he had spent the day shopping with his mother, received a call from a close friend later that evening, and left home to meet him. He was reported missing on October 27, and his body was recovered the next day.

Sheikh Hasina was flown out of Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, and has since remained in India.