Two bodies found floating in Padma River

Police have recovered two bodies floating in the Padma River near the border of Chapainawabganj. Locals claim they died due to the Indian Border Security Force’s (BSF) torture while travelling to the neighbouring country for smuggling.

Local police station chief Golam Kibria said the bodies were recovered from the river in the Batasi intersection of Manakosha Union in Shibganj Upazila at 3:00 pm on Saturday.

The deceased are Md Selim Reza, 25, and Shafiqul Islam, 45. Both were residents of Manaksha Union, reports bdnews24.com.

Quoting locals, Union Parishad (council) member Md Samir Uddin said that Shafiqul and Selim were involved in smuggling along the border in addition to fishing in the Padma.

They crossed into India through the river on Thursday night and have been missing since then.

It is believed that they died from torture after being detained by the BSF while returning. Their bodies were later dumped in the river, bearing visible signs of torture.

Chapainawabganj-53 BGB Battalion Commander Lt Col Fahad Mahmud Rinku said the two bodies were spotted floating in the Padma River, 2.5km inside Bangladesh from Border Pillar 4/2-S. Locals later identified them.

When the incident was reported to Shibganj Police Station, the authorities took custody of the two bodies. However, the families of the deceased have yet to contact the BGB, Fahad added.

The bodies have been handed over to the River Police for autopsy. “It is not possible to determine the cause of death immediately,” said Kibria.