BSF hands over body of Bangladeshi found on border

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has handed over the body of Zahur Ali, a Bangladeshi man found near the Gaurnagar border in India's Tripura.

Zahur Ali, 60, was the son of Mansub Ullah from Paschim Dulna village in Chunarughat upazila, said Inspector Shafiqul Islam of Chunarughat Police Station

The handover occurred during a flag meeting at the Balla border in Chunarughat upazila of Habiganj around 5:30pm today (9 January). The meeting was attended by border guards from both countries, local police, journalists, public representatives, and the deceased's son.

Shafiqul said they were informed by the BSF and Indian police that they had found Zahur's body last Saturday. The body was then taken to Khowai Police Station in India, where doctors at Khowai District Hospital confirmed his death and performed an autopsy.

Initial reports from Khowai police suggested Zahur Ali likely died from pneumonia or lung-related issues. However, the exact cause of death and how he crossed the border remain unclear.

Locals and Zahur's family said that he had been working as a security guard for a company in Dhaka. He had returned home on leave on January 4 and brought several lungis with him. The following afternoon, on 5 January, he told his family he was going to sell the lungis and would return soon.