Missing for 29 days, expatriate returnee found dead in Tongi drain
The victim went missing on 27 July after allegedly being lured to Sonargaon with a job offer.
A 21-year-old expatriate returnee who went missing after being called to Narayanganj's Sonargaon for a job was found dead in an abandoned drain near the Ijtema ground in Gazipur's Tongi, 29 days later.
The victim, Akash Sardar, a former expatriate who had recently returned from Cambodia, was allegedly lured to Narayanganj with a job offer before being abducted and taken to Tongi, according to a case filed by his father.
Faridpur Kotwali Police SI Mohammad Hasan confirmed the recovery of Akash's decomposed body from the abandoned drain at the Ijtema Maidan area today (24 August).
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One person, Mazharul Islam Mithu, 30, has been arrested in connection with the case.
Akash, son of Mohammad Karim Sardar of Chandpur village in Faridpur's Ishangopalpur union, had been missing since 27 July. He and Mithu had lived in Cambodia together for around two and a half years before returning to Bangladesh about three months ago.
According to the case statement, Akash had been looking for work after returning home. On 27 July, Mithu allegedly called him to Sonargaon, offering him a job. He was then allegedly abducted and taken to Tongi.
Later that evening, a man identified as Suman called Akash's wife, Jerin, on WhatsApp and told her that Akash was being held captive. His mobile phone was switched off afterwards.
Following his disappearance, Akash's family filed a general diary with Faridpur Kotwali Police Station. His father later filed a case naming Mithu, Apu Mia and Suman Mia, along with two to three unidentified people.
Based on a request from the case's investigating officer, Faridpur Kotwali Police SI Mohammad Hasan, a team from RAB-1's Uttara unit arrested Mithu in the Tongi West area yesterday (23 August).
Police said they subsequently recovered Akash's body based on information provided by Mithu. A team from Faridpur Kotwali Police Station recovered the body from the abandoned drain.
Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Mahamudul Hasan said the body had been sent to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy.
"After the autopsy, the body will be handed over to the family. If others are found to be involved in the incident, they will also be brought to justice," the OC added.
