BNP activist's body recovered from Jashore canal; police detain one suspect for questioning

Police recovered the body of a BNP activist from a canal in Jashore's Chougachha upazila today (21 June).

Meanwhile, locals detained a man named Osman, 30, on suspicion of involvement in the killing. Police subsequently took him into custody for questioning.

The deceased, Atiar Rahman, 42, was a resident of Laskarpur village under Chougachha sadar union.

Confirming the matter, Chougachha Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mamunur Rashid said, "The body was recovered from a canal connected to the Ber Gobindapur Baor in Singjhuli union after Asr prayers. The body was being sent for an autopsy."

The OC added, "There are injury marks on the victim's throat, abdomen and under the right armpit, indicating he was attacked with a sharp weapon. Efforts were underway to identify and arrest those involved in the killing."

According to family members, Atiar worked as a caretaker of the baor and also managed agricultural and irrigation activities through a deep tube well near the site. He usually returned home every morning but failed to do so today, prompting relatives to search for him.

At around 5pm, his nephew Hasan, 26, spotted the body floating beneath water hyacinths in the canal and alerted other family members, who later informed police.

Chougachha upazila BNP President MA Salam said Atiar was an active BNP worker and that his family had longstanding disputes with certain individuals over the Ber Gobindapur Baor. 

He alleged that Atiar and his family members had previously been attacked over the conflict and that related cases had been filed.

"We demand the immediate arrest of those responsible and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators," Salam said.