Guwahati: A former Bangladesh Air Force officer was found dead in a river in Dhaka on Thursday, a day after he went missing. Police are investigating the circumstances of his death and have not established any link to a video he reportedly recorded showing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina leaving Bangladesh in August 2024.

The deceased, KM Tahsif Souri, 28, was recovered by river police from the Tongi Bandar Ghat area after they received a call through the national emergency helpline 999, according to Bangladeshi media reports.

His body was taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital for an autopsy. His identity was confirmed after a mobile phone and wristwatch were found with the body.

Souri lived with his family in Sector 18 of Uttara in Dhaka, according to Prothom Alo. Police said the cause of death remained unknown. Although drowning was suspected, officials said the postmortem examination would help determine the circumstances of his death.

Souri’s father, KM Enayetul Karim Helal, told the country’s media that he did not know who was responsible for his son’s death. He said Souri had occasionally expressed concerns about his safety but had never explained what was troubling him.

According to his father, Souri was dismissed from the Air Force on disciplinary grounds. He later worked at the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Netra News and, most recently, Virgo Tobacco.

Helal said one of Souri’s junior friends came to their home shortly before evening. Souri told his mother that the friend, identified as Dip, had arrived and that he would go downstairs to speak with him. He then left the house but never returned, his father said.

Souri’s reported role in recording a video showing Hasina leaving Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, has drawn attention following his death. However, police have not established any connection between the video and the circumstances of his death.

Hasina left Dhaka as mass protests culminated in the collapse of her government. She reportedly travelled by military helicopter before boarding a Bangladesh Air Force C-130J Hercules aircraft bound for India’s Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad.

She has remained in exile in India and has vowed to return to Bangladesh.