Police in Jhikargachha, Jessore, have recovered the partially decomposed body of a missing engine-driven van driver from the Kopotakkho River, bringing a tragic end to an agonizing three-day search by his family.
The victim, 26-year-old Eklas Hossain, was a resident of Madhabpur village in the Swarupdaha Union of Chaugachha Upazila, and the son of local resident Sanaul Hossain.
The ordeal began on the afternoon of 19 September, when Eklas left his family residence driving his newly acquired engine-driven van. When he failed to return home that evening, his family grew concerned and launched a search across neighbouring villages, asking acquaintances and local community members for any sign of him. With no trace found, the family formally lodged a general diary (GD) at Chaugachha Police Station on 20 September, prompting officers to begin enquiries into his sudden disappearance.
The situation turned grim on the morning of Tuesday, 22 September, when local residents near the Ganganandapur East Para section of the Kopotakkho River in Jhikargachha Upazila spotted a body floating in the water. Eyewitnesses immediately alerted the local authorities. Officers from Jhikargachha Police Station arrived at the location shortly thereafter, retrieving the partially decomposed remains from the river at around 12:30 PM.
News of the discovery reached Eklas’s family, who rushed to the riverbank. Relatives identified the deceased as Eklas Hossain based on his clothing and physical description.
The recovery has cast a heavy shadow over Eklas’s village, leaving his grieving family demanding answers. Mysteries remain regarding how he ended up in the river, whether foul play was involved, and the location of his missing van. Motorised three-wheeler drivers in regional Bangladesh are often targeted by violent gangs seeking to hijack valuable vehicles, a line of enquiry investigators are considering.
Police have dispatched the body to the Jessore General Hospital morgue for a post-mortem examination to establish the precise cause and timing of death. Officers from both Chaugachha and Jhikargachha police stations are coordinating to map out Eklas’s last known movements and trace his missing vehicle as part of the ongoing investigation.
