Freedom fighter's body recovered from Fatikchhari home

Police today (20 June) recovered the body of a freedom fighter from his home at Fatikchhari upazila in Chattogram district.

The deceased was identified as Zahurul Anwar, 75, a decorated freedom fighter and resident of Hamzar Tila area under ward no 1 of Fatikchhari municipality, confirmed Fatikchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Robiul Alam Khan.

The incident occurred at around 9am today.

According to police and family members, Zahurul is survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters. Two of his sons currently live in the United Arab Emirates, while he had been residing at home with his wife, one son and daughters-in-law.

Family members said Zahurul's wife began searching for him after he did not respond when called for breakfast in the morning. She later found him hanging from a staircase railing with a rope around his neck and informed neighbours, who alerted police.

Police recovered the body and sent it for autopsy.

Family members told police that Zahurul had been suffering from various health complications for a long time and was experiencing mental distress. They also claimed he had attempted suicide twice in the past.

OC Robiul Alam Khan said police had not found any initial evidence suggesting foul play.

"The deceased had been suffering from several physical ailments for a long time. Family members also told us that he had been under mental pressure due to an ongoing civil dispute over land," the OC told TBS.

He added that an unnatural death case had been filed with the police station.

"The exact cause of death can be confirmed after receiving the post-mortem report," he said.

Following the post-mortem examination, Zahurul was laid to rest with state honours.

Fatikchhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sayeed Mohammad Ibrahim and OC Robiul Alam Khan, among others, attended the burial ceremony.