Tahsif's death: how he ended up in the water is still unclear, as investigators await the viscera report

Although new information keeps emerging in the mysterious death of former air force officer K M Tahsif Sauri, investigators still cannot confirm how he ended up in the water. Sources at the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) said police have found evidence that on the night of the incident Tahsif went with his friend Ahmed Shahriar Reza Deep to a bar in Uttara, dropped his girlfriend home, and later went to a drug-dealing spot at the Mazar Basti field in Tongi. Others besides Tahsif and Deep were also present at that field that night. But investigators remain in doubt over whether Tahsif fell into the water while fleeing after sensing the presence of police, or whether he was murdered.

According to PBI sources, during interrogation investigators asked Deep whether Tahsif had fallen into the water accidentally, whether he had jumped in himself, or whether he had been murdered. But Deep gave different accounts again and again in response to these questions. As a result, those involved in the investigation still cannot be sure of the real reason Tahsif ended up in the water.

An officer who interrogated Deep on Friday night (30 October), speaking on condition of anonymity, told Dhaka Post: "It still cannot be said for certain how Tahsif actually died. No visible injury marks from outside were found on his body. To know the real cause of death, we now have to wait for the viscera examination report. Whether there was any poison or drug-like substance in his body is also being tested. It will take some time to get these reports. Only after the full report is in hand can confirmed information be given; no premature conclusion can be reached before that."

Another officer involved in the investigation said the local youths running away after sensing the presence of police is being viewed as a normal occurrence. Just as small roadside shopkeepers fold up their shops when they see police and reopen a little later, those youths also ran in the same way when they saw the police. However, apart from Deep, there is no other eyewitness to the incident. He also said the youths were local retail drug dealers.

Another law enforcement officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Dhaka Post: "The mystery of how Tahsif fell into the water has not yet been solved. It has not been confirmed either whether someone had poisoned him beforehand or whether he was in an intoxicated state. There is no scope to believe what Deep is saying without verifying it. Whether he too ran with everyone else and fell into the water, or whether something else happened, is also not clear. More investigation is needed to confirm these matters."

On handing Deep over to the river police, PBI Dhaka Metro North Additional DIG Md. Enayet Hossain Mannan said the PBI had been assisting the river police in the investigation after the body was recovered. Until then, no case had been filed over the incident. Later, when a case was filed on Thursday night, Deep was handed over to the river police from PBI custody.

Tahsif's father, K M Enayetul Karim, expressed suspicion over the role of his son's friend Deep in Tahsif's death. Speaking to journalists at his home in Uttara on Saturday (31 October), he said: "Deep's statements and activities are questionable. Deep first told us that he had dropped Tahsif at the house compound and left. But later, in the PBI investigation, he admitted that the two of them had gone to Tongi together."

Tahsif's father also said he cannot clearly understand who is behind the incident and what exactly happened. He demanded that the real cause of his son's death be uncovered, that the incident be investigated impartially and properly, and that those responsible be brought to justice quickly.

The Retired Armed Forces Officers' Welfare Association, RAOWA, has demanded that the real facts of Tahsif Sauri's death be uncovered and properly investigated. On Saturday (31 October), RAOWA leaders met Tahsif's family at his home in Uttara. After the meeting, RAOWA joint secretary retired Lieutenant Colonel Abu Nowroz Khurshid Alam said they had gone to offer condolences to the bereaved family and to learn whether any legal or other assistance was needed in this incident. At the time, Tahsif's father K M Enayetul Karim told them that various law enforcement agencies are investigating the incident and eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage are being verified at the field level.

The RAOWA leaders expressed hope that the real truth of the incident would be uncovered quickly and proper legal action taken. They assured Tahsif's family of standing beside them and extending all kinds of cooperation. Former army officer Major Al Amin, who was present, said they would keep the incident under observation and want a thorough investigation and trial of those involved.

On the evening of 27 October, former air force flight lieutenant K M Tahsif Sauri left his Uttara home in response to a phone call from his friend Ahmed Shahriar Reza Deep. The next afternoon, 28 October, the river police recovered his body from the Rajabari Ghat area of the Turag River in Tongi. At that time, no visible injury marks from outside were found on the body. Showing Deep arrested as a suspect in the murder case, the investigating officer produced him before the court on Saturday (31 October) and applied for a seven-day remand. After the hearing, the court granted a four-day remand. The river police are currently conducting the investigation of this murder case.