'My Son Knew How to Swim, the Chase-and-Jump Story Is Not Credible' — Tahsif's Father Questions the Account

Former flight lieutenant KM Tahsif Souri knew how to swim; as part of his pilot training he had completed a special swimming course and earned a certificate. Tahsif's father, AKM Enayetul Karim, is therefore unwilling to accept the account given by younger brother Deep during PBI questioning — that Tahsif jumped into the river while being chased. He alleges an attempt is being made to divert his son's death in a different direction.

Speaking on Friday (October 30), Enayetul Karim said: 'No, no, nothing like that can happen. Why would anyone chase him? This is nonsense, out of the question. My son knew how to swim. He was a pilot. They did a swimming course and he has a certificate for it. My son had done a major course in swimming.'

Asked whether he suspects a cover-up or a conspiracy, he said: 'Naturally, that is what it seems. Why else would people chase him, why would anyone chase him? An attempt is being made to divert the incident in another direction. I feel the matter is being presented differently.'

Before going missing, Tahsif had left home after a call from his younger brother Deep. On Thursday night, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Dhaka Metro North took Deep into custody for questioning. Based on information he provided, raids were then conducted at various places through the night.

A PBI superintendent of police, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Deep told interrogators: 'We were talking there (at the spot). At that time some people chased us. Tahsif jumped into the river. And I ran away.'

Additional Inspector General of Police Mostafa Kamal said quite a lot of information has been obtained since Deep was taken into custody, but he did not want to disclose it yet in the interest of the investigation.

Meanwhile, a motorcycle without a number plate has been recovered from the Mazar Basti area under Tongi West police station, about three and a half kilometres from the spot on the Turag river where Tahsif's body was found. PBI headquarters superintendent Abu Yusuf said in a message that the motorcycle was found roughly 50 yards from the river, and it is being verified whether it belongs to Tahsif.

A PBI superintendent said the motorcycle was recovered as shown by Deep. As it has no number plate, its ownership is being verified. The motorcycle Tahsif rode out from home was also seen to be without a number plate in CCTV footage, he said.

Police recovered Tahsif's body on Wednesday afternoon from the Rajabari Ghat area of the Turag river under Uttarkhan police station. The motorcycle recovery site falls under Tongi West police station; both places, however, are connected to the Turag river.

According to Enayetul Karim, his son left home on Tuesday evening after receiving Deep's phone call. At around 1:35 am, Tahsif sent a message to his mother's mobile phone saying he was returning home. His father said on Thursday afternoon that there had been no trace of Tahsif since that message.

Enayetul Karim has alleged from the very beginning that his son was murdered. He has sought intervention from the administration and the government to uncover the real truth of the incident and identify the culprits.

PBI Metro North additional DIG Mohammad Enayet Hossain Mannan said: 'We visited the spot with Deep and are verifying the information he gave. Why they went there; whether he was murdered, or it was an accident or suicide — we are looking for answers to these questions. The answers obtained so far need verification. For now we are investigating; once the mystery is solved, it will be disclosed.'