Tahsif's body was recovered floating beside Rajabari Ghat on the Turag River at around 5:45pm on Wednesday

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) suspects that former Air Force official Tahsif Souri may have been strangled to death, with investigators looking into the possible involvement of a powerful local and international syndicate.
 
PBI sources said Ahmed Shahriar Reza Dwip, the friend who called Tahsif out of his home before he went missing, was taken into custody for questioning on Thursday night and brought to PBI Dhaka Metro North.
 
Investigators said they had obtained significant information from Dwip, which is now being verified.
 
 “Initially, we did not suspect robbery as his expensive watch and mobile phone were intact, and money was found in his pocket,” PBI sources said.
 
The sources added that although no visible injury marks were found on Tahsif's body, investigators suspect he may have been strangled. They are also looking into the possible involvement of multiple people and a powerful local and international syndicate.

 
He said the motive behind the killing was being investigated.
 
What the inquest report says
After Tahsif's body was recovered, Sub-Inspector Mostafizur Rahman of the Tongi River Police outpost prepared an inquest report.
 
According to the report, the body was recovered floating beside Rajabari Ghat on the Turag River at around 5:45pm on Wednesday.
 
In cases of unnatural death, police examine the external condition of a body and prepare an inquest report documenting their observations.
 
The report described Tahsif as approximately 5 ft 7 in tall, with black hair and a short black beard and moustache. His eyes and mouth were closed, and blood was coming from his nose. Both hands were bent in front of his head, with the fingers clenched into fists. His abdomen was swollen.
 
The report noted no visible injuries on his chest, abdomen, back, legs or genitals. He was wearing a black full-sleeved Kabli shirt and white trousers when his body was recovered.
 
The River Police's initial report also mentioned a wristwatch and an iPhone in his pocket. He was identified through the phone.
 
The body was subsequently sent to the morgue of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital for an autopsy.
 
Dwip in PBI custody
PBI headquarters Superintendent of Police Abu Yusuf said investigators were taking Dwip to various places visited by the two men, including the motorcycle repair shop and the restaurant, to verify his account.
 
According to Dwip's account, the two first went to a garage to have Tahsif's motorcycle repaired after leaving home. They then had dinner at Ququdodoo restaurant in Uttara.
 
After leaving the restaurant, they rode their respective motorcycles towards home. They remained together until the Uttara House Building area, where they parted ways at around midnight.
 
Dwip claimed he returned home after that and knew nothing further about Tahsif's whereabouts.
 
What the family says
Tahsif's father, Enayetul Karim, believes his son was killed as part of a planned attack.
 
He said Tahsif left home on Tuesday evening after receiving a phone call from Dwip. At around 1:35am, Tahsif sent a message to his mother's mobile phone saying he was on his way home.
 
Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Enayetul said his son appeared to be in a hurry in the message. However, the family received no further information about his whereabouts.
 
A close relative, however, said the last voice message sent to his mother's phone did not sound like Tahsif.
 
Enayetul said his son was dismissed from the Air Force on disciplinary grounds. Tahsif later worked at the Bangladesh Cricket Board and Netra News.
 
He suspects his son was killed and his body dumped in the Turag River.
 
Controversy over video of Hasina's departure
Tahsif had drawn attention over allegations that he filmed the viral video of then prime minister Sheikh Hasina leaving the country by aircraft from Kurmitola Airport on August 5, 2024.
 
During a podcast interview last July, Tahsif was asked whether he had lost his Air Force job for recording the video. He replied: “Might be.”
 
In the same podcast, he was asked about a report published by the daily Amar Desh claiming that an Air Force investigation into the video had uncovered the involvement of India's intelligence agency, RAW, within the force, and that Tahsif's name had surfaced in connection with the agency.
 
Tahsif dismissed the report, saying: “I think the report Amar Desh did is actually serving some propaganda.”
 
Following the publication of the report on August 4 last year, the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) issued a rejoinder.
 
It said the report had claimed that two officers, including Tahsif, were forcibly retired over allegations of links with a foreign intelligence agency.
 
“In reality,” the ISPR said, the two officers had been retired through due process under the Air Force's prevailing laws and regulations in a different context, which had no connection with the allegations.