Tahsif Souri, 28, went missing a day earlier; his family says he was murdered, but police have not confirmed the cause of death
The body of a former Bangladesh Air Force officer has been found in the Turag river in Dhaka. He was Flight Lieutenant Tahsif Souri, also written as KM Tahsif Souri. He is believed to be the person who filmed a video of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaving the country by aircraft on August 5, 2024.
What Happened
Souri’s body was found floating in the river on October 28, more than 24 hours after he went missing. He had left home on October 27 with a friend to get his motorcycle repaired, but he never came back.
Constable Md Rakib, who was on duty at the river police control room, told The Daily Star that a river police team recovered the body from the Tongi Bandar Ghat area. The team acted after getting a call on the national emergency helpline, 999.
Police could name the man because his mobile phone and wristwatch were found with the body. It was taken to the morgue of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka for an autopsy.
Cause of Death Still Unknown
Police have not said how Souri died. Constable Rakib said the exact cause will be known only after the autopsy report comes in.
Souri’s father and cousin have claimed that he was murdered, according to a report in the Dhaka Tribune. Police have stayed quiet on these claims, and nothing has been proven so far.
Why Was He in the News?
Souri first became widely known for his reported role in recording and sharing the footage of Hasina leaving Bangladesh. She fled to India on August 5, 2024, when her Awami League government collapsed during violent protests led by students. The protests left more than 500 people dead.
Only days after the video appeared, Souri was dismissed from the Air Force. At that time, he was accused of having links with India’s spy agency, RAW. These were accusations made against him, and the reports provided here do not offer proof of them.
His Later Statements
Months before his death, Souri spoke about these issues in a podcast that drew a lot of attention. He also questioned how the government handled the 2025 fighter jet crash at a school, which killed more than 35 people.
His sudden death has now brought his past back into focus. Many people in Bangladesh are asking what happened to him in the hours after he left home.
What Comes Next
The autopsy report is the next key step, and it may help explain how Souri died. Until then, the cause of death remains unclear. Police have not yet said whether they are treating the case as an accident, a suicide or a murder, and they have not announced any arrests.
