Body of youth recovered from pond beside Prime Minister's Rajshahi rally venue; Rafsaan, who could not swim, had been missing since Monday
Police have recovered the body of a youth named Rafsaan bin Abdullah (18) from a pond adjoining the Madrasa High School field in Rajshahi, the venue of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's public rally. The recovery of a body from the pond beside the venue, at a time of preparation and security activity around the rally, has created a stir in the area.
The body was recovered at around 10am on Tuesday (October 20) from the pond beside the Shah Makhdum Institute Library in the city. After recovery, the body was identified as Rafsaan bin Abdullah.
Rafsaan was a resident of the Hosniganj Betpatti area of the city. He was the son of the late Abdullah Jaki Rubel.
Citing police and family members, it is learnt that Rafsaan left home on Monday morning (October 19) and did not return. The family said he had been missing since Monday.
It is learnt that Rafsaan sat this year's SSC examination. He had failed in one subject in that examination.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Gaziur Rahman said Rafsaan used to play regularly on that field. The field, known as the rally venue, and its surrounding area were therefore not unfamiliar to him.
The police spokesperson also said Rafsaan did not know how to swim. That information has become important in exploring the possible cause of his death.
It is initially suspected that on Monday morning, after playing, he may have drowned while bathing in the pond. Police have mentioned this only as an initial suspicion, not as a final conclusion.
Deputy Commissioner Gaziur Rahman further said no injury marks were found elsewhere on the body in the initial inquest. That information has strengthened the initial suspicion, but the cause of death can only be confirmed after the post-mortem and legal process.
The body is currently kept at the morgue of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where the necessary procedures will be completed.
Police said the body will be handed over to the family after the legal process is completed. Family members are now waiting for that process to end.
Such a death beside the Prime Minister's rally venue has naturally drawn extra attention. However, the initial police statement points toward drowning and notes that no injury marks were found on the body.
Attention will now be on the handover of the body to the family after the morgue procedures and legal formalities, and on learning the final information about the cause of death.
